Harry Maguire record-breaking £80million move to Manchester United represents great value for money for the fallen Premier League giants.
That is the verdict of Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness ahead of the England and Leicester City man’s imminent switch to Old Trafford, which will be finalised in the next 48 hours.
The fee for Maguire, 26, is the biggest ever in this country and a world record for a defender – eclipsing the £75m Liverpool paid Southampton for brilliant Dutch ace Virgil van Dijk 18 months ago.
And Anfield legend Souness predicts the Three Lions centre-half will have a similar impact on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United as van Dijk has on Jurgen Klopp’s Champions League winners.
Which is why he is worth every penny for a club desperate to make a dent on the domestic dominance of bitter rivals Manchester City and Liverpool.
Ex-Scotland international Souness, 66, said: “United will be hoping to get the Van Dijk effect from Maguire.
“Van Dijk, along with keeper Allison, has transformed the Liverpool team. They’ve taken them from a team who was vulnerable to a team that isn’t.
“Harry will make everyone in the United team feel more secure. Because they have got a proper player. Whoever signed him was going to improve.
“At 26, he’s got enough experience and great qualities. He’s got size, he’s quick enough on the ball, and he has this desire to win.
“If things aren’t going well, he’s someone who will step into midfield to make things happen. There’s so much to like about him.
“As well as the quality he brings himself, it’s the knock-on effect this will have on the rest.
“Teams liked playing United last year – they were vulnerable defensively. But that has definitely changed now.
“Not just because of Maguire’s own input but the calming influence he’ll have – like Van Dijk – on those around him.”
Before the Kop fear United plus Maguire equals authentic title challengers, Souness has rubbished the idea.
As far as he is concerned, United, who finished sixth last season and a massive 32 points adrift of champions City, are a long way off being in the same bracket.
Souness, who won five leagues and three European Cups with the Reds between 1978 and 1984, added: “For four or five years, they’ve been scratching around, spending lots of money and it hasn’t worked.
“I still think, even though Maguire will make them better, it doesn’t make them good enough to challenge at the top.
“I see it being between the big two again. The nearest challengers will be Tottenham - and after that United. Neither Arsenal or Chelsea are good enough.”
