Manchester City should have 'broke the bank' to beat Manchester United to the signature of Harry Maguire, according to Graeme Souness.
The former Liverpool man heaped praise upon the England international ahead of his Premier League debut for the Red Devils, after he was named in the starting line-up for the opening weekend clash with Chelsea.
City were also keen to land the 26-year-old from Leicester during the summer transfer window but did not rival United in terms of fee, despite the defence losing a key player with Vincent Kompany returning to Anderlecht.
While City will be confident due to the strong defensive line that they boast, Souness expressed surprised that Pep Guardiola did not make a serious move for Maguire.
“He’s the real deal for me. I think his character, the qualities he has, the reading of the game. It’s never been more important for a centre-half to see the picture and deliver upon what he sees,” he told Sky Sports.
“Your centre-back is genuinely what a central midfielder used to be, so I think he will make a big difference for United and he will have a calming effect on the rest of the team. I’d expect him to have the same influence Van Dijk has had at Liverpool.
“I think he is a great signing. I’m surprised that City didn’t break the bank to get him, if they had a bank that could be broken. I think he is sensational and everything you want from a centre-half.”
