Did United just pay £80m for a bad van Dijk?

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - JULY 27: Harry Maguire of Leicester looks on during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Stoke City and Leicester City at the Bet365 Stadium on July 27, 2019 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - JULY 27: Harry Maguire of Leicester looks on during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Stoke City and Leicester City at the Bet365 Stadium on July 27, 2019 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Are Manchester United about to pay £80 million to sign Harry Maguire but will actually get a bad Virgil van Dijk? We crunch the numbers.

The BBC are reporting that the Red Devils are close to sealing the deal on the massive transfer, which would be more than the Reds spent on van Dijk in January 2018.

There has been a bit of noise surrounding the fee and questions asked about whether the England international is worth it in a summer that marks a remarkable rise for the former Sheffield United and Hull City man.

Maguire joined Leicester City in 2017 from the Tigers and played just 69 Premier Lean League games for them before seeing his value sore to nearly three figures.

More from Rush The Kop

Van Dijk experienced something similar from his time at Southampton and now the £75 million that Liverpool paid for him is small change, but how do the two defenders stack up based on their 2018/2019 performances?

According to Smarter Scout, the Dutchman defends more often and to a higher standard than his English competition. So far, so good.

Virg also keeps the ball a lot better, and plays out from the back with more skill and confidence. This is important for Liverpool, and for more top class sides, but Maguire is rated as a better dribbler so that may help his new side negate that poor passing.

Van Dijk recovers better than Harry Slabhead as well, and is generally better in the air. He certainly wins more headers from dead ball situations, which is crucial for a central defender who is the first line of defence for indirect free-kicks and corners.

But with more goals, the £80 million is more of a threat in the opposition box – but you don’t pay that much money for a central defender who can score goals.

United have almost certainly overpaid, but Maguire wasn’t super motivated to leave (said the BBC) and Leicester knew it was a seller’s market. That’s what happens.

The England international is a fine player, no doubt, but he’s not quite van Dijk.