Solskjaer bets on Maguire to transform Manchester United

MANCHESTER

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Saturday that he is confident that Harry Maguire will have a transformative effect on Manchester United after making England's international the most expensive defender in the world.

Sh9.9 billion United (£ 80 million) wasted to take Maguire de Leicester was £ 5 million more than Liverpool spent in January 2018 to pocket Virgil van Dijk, a firm that helped transform the fortunes of the fierce United rivals and beat them the Champions League.

Meanwhile, United conceded 54 goals in 38 games last season, their worst defensive campaign in 40 years when they finished sixth, and Solskjaer believes that Maguire will make the difference when United opens his Premier League home campaign against him Chelsea on Sunday.

"I am delighted to have got Harry because it will be great for this club," Solskjaer said.

"It was always my number one goal. I more or less decided when we played against Leicester that if it was possible to catch him, we should at least try."


"I don't want to compare ourselves with Liverpool or Harry with Van Dijk, but I know that Harry will have a massive impact on us."

Headed 20 times for England, Maguire made a name for himself with a leading role in the race to the semifinals of last year's World Cup in Russia.

He was linked to United immediately after that, but after another season at Leicester in which he played 31 times in the Premier League and scored three goals, he has now made his great move.

"Harry is so composed on the ball and gives the team another dimension," Solskjaer got excited.

"It has already shown what presence it will have and what impact it will have on the team."

"Harry is a leader, an established international, a goal threat and a very, very good defender."

Maguire is the main arrival this summer, with the other two signings, Aaron Wan-Bissaka of Crystal Palace and Daniel James on the side of the Swansea Championship, both only 21, as Solskjaer gives young people a chance in their new team.

The Norwegian has also said that the product of the 17-year-old Mason Greenwood Academy will have an opportunity to attack after Romelu Lukaku's departure to Inter Milan, without replacement for the Belgian.

It's a bet of the manager and the United board with fans expressing their anger at the club's executive vice president, Ed Woodward, at the end of Thursday's transfer deadline, but Solskjaer wants to build in the long term.

"I just stay true to what I believe. I believe in this way of running a football club," he said.

"If we don't make these decisions now, they must be taken in 12 months, 18 months or 24 months because at some point these children will have to be part of Man Utd."