Transfer News:
Manchester United have done lesser business this season in comparison to recent years and there are obvious concerns amongst the fans regarding the same. Fred, the Brazilian midfielder is the only signing who can straightaway walk into the playing XI and the manager might well make a late dash in the market to strengthen a key area of the squad.
United had originally targeted Toby Alderweireld, however, Tottenham and United haven’t agreed on a fee yet and hence Ed Woodward seems to be turning his attention towards luring Harry Maguire from Leicester City now. Maguire, who travelled with the English national team for the World Cup impressed everyone with his assured performances.
He even scored a goal in the quarterfinals against Sweden and his presence signified the changing mould of English defenders. Maguire is young, fearless and looks to have improved by leaps and bounds over the years.
Harry Maguire: Player Profile
Maguire is a strong, commanding central defender with a strong positional sense too. He is dominant in the air, combative while defending and quite composed with the ball at his feet. Maguire can play the ball out from the back, break the midfield lines and occasionally surges ahead in order to add an extra man in attack.
He is accurate whilst intercepting passes and his calm head ensures that the team does not mess up whenever they are caught in tight areas inside their own half. Due to his broad and tall stature, Maguire is a threat from set pieces and is a constant nuisance in the opposition box. He is deceitfully quick and disallows his adversary to get past him by bullying them off the ball or taking up excellent positions.
The 25-year-old played seven matches in the recently concluded FIFA World Cup and scored once whilst also having assisted once. He won one tackle on an average and intercepted the ball on 0.6 occasions. Maguire took 1.6 shots on target per game and recorded an 88.8% passing accuracy. He played four long balls from the back in every match on an average.
Should Manchester United make a move?
If United fail to conclude a move for Alderweireld, then Maguire seems to be the next best option currently. The former Hull City player is robust, strong and has a calm head. His playing style is a good amalgamation of old-school defending and a unique, modern touch. He can certainly play the ball out from the back and is supremely confident.
Maguire has additional Premier League experience, and he seems to be a leader in the making. Jose was initially looking for an experienced, veteran defender, but Maguire isn’t a bad alternative at all. The £65m tag is huge, but the nature of the inflated market is such that the market price of the players has surged up by a considerable margin. It remains to be seen whether United take the plunge or not though.