HE’S THE RIGHT FIT
United’s Maguire can match Van Dijk’s success at Liverpool, says Evans
HARRY Maguire is ‘tailor-made’ for Manchester United and could soon be as important for his new club as Virgil van Dijk is for their rivals Liverpool, former teammate Jonny Evans has said.
United made Maguire the most expensive defender in world football when they signed him for a reported £80 million (RM405 million) from Leicester City in the close season.
The fee eclipsed the previous record of £75 million that Liverpool paid Southampton for Van Dijk in early 2018.
Evans, who came through the United youth system and spent more than a decade at Old Trafford,
backed Maguire to quickly become a fan favourite with his new club.
“I don’t have any worries about him there,” the Leicester defender told British media.
“He’s tailor-made for Manchester United, it was a great move for him. He’s a player they needed... He will be a real hit there.”
Van Dijk has been a transformative presence for Liverpool since joining the Merseyside club, helping them win the Champions League last season and take the Premier League title race down to the wire.
Maguire, 26, made his United debut in Sunday’s 4-0 Premier League victory over Chelsea and showed signs of similar promise with a performance that earned him the Man-of-the-Match award.
“Both are great on the ball and Harry has got an explosive pace that people don’t see,” Evans added. “He is powerful and good in the air.
“Everyone will compare the transfer fees but it’s so difficult to judge transfer fees nowadays. We’re 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.”
United’s next assignment is a league trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday.
Meanwhile, United have confirmed the signing of Norwegian teenager Isak Hansen-Aaroen from Tromso.
The 14-year-old opted to sign for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team ahead of Liverpool and Everton after spending time on trial at all three clubs.
United have agreed a fee of £90,000 for the striker.
Hansen-Aaroen spent time with Liverpool in October 2017 before United invited him to training several times throughout 2018.
The Norway Under-15 international must wait until Aug 22 next year, when he turns 16, to complete the move due to FIFA regulations over young players.