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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Nick Mashiter

Harry Maguire similar to Liverpool man Virgil van Dijk and tailor-made for Man Utd, says Jonny Evans

Harry Maguire has been backed to be a Manchester United hit and have a similar impact to Virgil Van Dijk at Liverpool by former Leicester City team-mate Jonny Evans.

England international Maguire joined United from Leicester for £80million last week, a world record for a defender.

Van Dijk helped Liverpool win the Champions League and finish second in the Premier League last season after his £75m move from Southampton in January 2018.

United kept their first clean sheet since February in Maguire's debut on Sunday, a 4-0 win over Chelsea, and Evans - who won three titles at Old Trafford - tipped him for success.

"You can see comparisons in their games (Maguire and Van Dijk), both are great on the ball, and Harry has got explosive pace people don't see," he said.

"He is powerful, good in the air...Everyone will compare the transfer fees but it's so difficult to judge transfer fees nowadays.

"We are all human and it is weird we get traded for money. In the transfer market it's all supply and demand and things can go up and down at any moment.

"The most important thing is for him to be judged on how he plays. I don't have any worries about him there.

"He is tailor-made for Man United, it was a great move for him. He's a player they needed.

"He's got a really likeable nature about him. He will be a real hit there, he is a fantastic player."

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