Why signing Harry Maguire could be a blunder by Manchester United
Manchester United are probably in need of a new centre-back to bring calmness and regularity at the back. Manager Jose Mourinho has targeted Leicester City’s £80m-rated Harry Maguire to bring the change. The 25-year-old was one of the stars for England in the World Cup, as the nation celebrated a unique run until the semi-finals.
The Red Devils also kept close tabs on Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld as the Belgian seems destined to leave North London. However, his fantastic performances in Russia have increased the price tag, which is a blow to Mourinho’s plans, as the club is reluctant to pay over the odds.
Maguire might not be the right fit for the system
Leicester City are possibly resigned to the fact that United will offer big money and Maguire will eventually leave the King Power Stadium. But for United, it won’t be perfectly wise to spend a huge chunk of money on a player who might not fit the system that Mourinho generally deploys.
The Portuguese manager likes his defenders to be of no-nonsense type, clearing balls and making tackles; in short, only defending. Maguire is a different type of player who would be more suited to play under Jurgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola.
The Englishman is more of a ball-playing defender who likes to move forward with the ball when given space. Although he performed impeccably at the World Cup, the former Hull City defender still doesn’t have the experience of playing at the highest level regularly.
Mourinho is predominantly a manager who likes tried and tested players in his squad to straightaway put them on the test and expect positive results. While in contradiction, Maguire might be prone to errors because of the way he plays and his relatively less experience.
Verdict
There is no doubt that if this deal does go through, it would be a massive opportunity for the defender to come to Old Trafford and show his talent. However, under Mourinho, there is always a scanner waiting to come on top of a player if he makes mistakes or plays slightly differently from the manager’s plans.
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So, in this sense, this move might just be a blunder for both parties as United won’t be landing an upgrade and Maguire might damage his confidence.
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