His stock has shot up over the past month
England’s quarter-final triumph over Sweden will have at least doubled Harry Maguire’s value. The defender’s header gave England the lead against Sweden and put the Three Lions in a good position to see the game out and reach their first semi-final for 28 years.
Maguire has been a vital part of England’s defence in Gareth Southgate’s 3-5-2 system, playing to the left of John Stones and Kyle Walker. His dominance in the air combined with his composure on the ball, line-breaking runs and passing ability has made him stand out as one of the most complete defenders in the tournament.
You can expect the big clubs to be circling round Leicester, fighting over his signature this summer.
In fact, Phil Thompson has come out and suggested that Liverpool should sign the defender:
“I’ve been a big fan of Harry Maguire since his days at Hull City,” Thompson told the Liverpool Echo.
“Since then he’s got better and better. He’s had a fantastic World Cup so far,” he continued.
“I was saying long before the tournament started that he has all the attributes needed to be a Liverpool player. He’s big, he’s strong and positionally he’s very good whether as a two or a three at the back.
“He’s a lot quicker than people give him credit for. He dominates in the air and that’s a major asset both defensively and offensively.”
He praised Maguire to the heavens, claiming that he was “better than John Stones when it comes to passing it out from the back.”
Thompson, who won seven league titles and three European Cups with Liverpool, continued to wax lyrical about Maguire:
“Harry has been one of the best defenders in the World Cup and he certainly fits Liverpool’s philosophy. I can’t speak more highly of him.
“No disrespect to Leicester but I can’t see him being there come the end of the transfer window. I think he would have been £50m before the World Cup and probably a bit more now. But I think he would be worth it.
“Big clubs will be after him and I’d like to think that Liverpool would be at the forefront.”
