“Top-drawer player”- Manchester United defender at 2022 World Cup backed to succeed at Chelsea

Former England goalkeeper speaks highly of potential Chelsea target and Manchester United defender Harry Maguire

Speaking on The Games Cabin (h/t Express), former England goalkeeper David James claims that Chelsea would get a top-drawer centre-back in Harry Maguire if Manchester United decide to sell him and he does join the west London outfit.

During the summer transfer window, the Blues did target a move for Maguire if the Wesley Fofana deal did not go through (Guardian). Eventually, the club managed to sign the latter.

However, the links with the United defender have not gone away. A few weeks ago, Football.London reported that the Red Devils could demand a fee as low as £25m for a player who they spent £80m on when signing from Leicester City in 2019.

Here’s what James said regarding Maguire and him being a top player (h/t Express):

“I just hope he has a fantastic World Cup and gets himself back in the Manchester United team. I hope this is the stage in his career where he looks back on and goes ‘that was a sticky period but I got through it with flying colours’.”

“If the club has decided to sell him, then if it’s Chelsea who signs him or whoever, then they’re getting a top-drawer player.”

Maguire still has a contract at Old Trafford until the summer of 2025, with an option to extend that by a year (Transfermarkt). Considering that and seeing the price United could demand to sell him, he becomes an attractive prospect from a financial front.

The 29-year-old has not had a great time in Manchester in the last year or so. However, he has been one of the stars for England in their run to the semi-final and final in the 2018 World Cup and 2021 Euros respectively.

In a way, he is comfortable playing in a three-at-the-back formation, which Gareth Southgate deployed a lot in those tournaments. Although against relatively minnow nations, Maguire continues to have a good time in an England shirt during the current World Cup.

What that implies is that there is a player in there who definitely has drawbacks, but maybe not as bad as the people have made him out to be.

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Is he worth the punt for the money United are demanding for him? It is not beyond the realms of possibility, is it? Chelsea are in a situation where they would need to find a replacement for veteran Thiago Silva, whose contract expires at the end of the season (Transfermarkt). Potter prefers playing three central defenders in his system. Maguire is a better player in this system. Adds up nicely!