SIPA USABy James Ducker
Harry Maguire has urged Ole Gun-
nar Solskjaer to start him against
Chelsea on Sunday after the Eng-
land defender finally completed his
move to Manchester United yester-
day in a deal that could end up cost-
ing the club almost £150 million.
United have handed Maguire
what could prove to be the longest
contract in the club’s history after
he signed a six-year deal worth
around £190,000 a week with the
option of a seventh year.
Ed Woodward, the United execu-
tive vice-chairman, has moved to
hand out longer-term contracts
over the past year, but Maguire’s
deal still represents an extraordi-
nary show of faith in the 26-year-
old, whose £80 million fee makes
him the highest-paid defender in
football history, eclipsing the
£75 million Liverpool paid South-
ampton for Virgil van Dijk last year.
Should Maguire stay at United
for seven years, he would stand to
earn £69.16 million in wages, which
would take the club’s investment to
£149.16 million.
Hull City will receive a £9.45 mil-
lion windfall from Maguire’s trans-
fer owing to a clause they negotiated
when they sold the player to Leices-
ter two years ago that entitles them
to 15 per cent of the profit made on
any future sale.
It is understood Sheffield United
are also in line for a small sum – be-
lieved to be under £500,000 – that
is the result of a clause they had
written into Maguire’s contract
when he left for Hull five years ago.
Maguire becomes United’s third
summer signing after Daniel James
and Aaron Wan-Bissaka and the
centre-half has declared himself fit
for the Chelsea match.
Solskjaer is expected to partner
him alongside Victor Lindelof.
“I’ve worked hard and done
every session and played every
game for Leicester so my fitness is
there,” Maguire said. “I knew if I got
the move, I wanted to be in conten-
tion to play my first game.”
Maguire is convinced the man-
ager is assembling a side that will
challenge for trophies again.
“I am excited about the vision
and plans he has for the team,”
Maguire said. “It’s clear to see Ole is
building a team to win trophies.
When Manchester United comeknocking on your door, it is an in-
credible opportunity.”
Solskjaer believes Maguire will
be crucial to his desire to play out
from the back and also bring lead-
ership and presence, as well as
greater aerial threat.
“Harry is one of the best centre-
backs in the game,” Solskjaer said.
“He is a great reader of the game
and has a strong presence on the
pitch. With the ability to remain
calm under pressure – coupled with
his composure on the ball and a
huge presence in both boxes – I can
see he will fit well into this group
both on and off the pitch.”
The first player Maguire met at
Carrington was Paul Pogba, whom
he also watched play part of a be-
hind-closed-doors friendly against
Blackburn Rovers Under-23s, and
the pair seem likely to remain team-
mates beyond the close of the trans-
fer window on Thursday.
United flatly rejected a bid of30 million euros (£27.6 million) plus
James Rodriguez for Pogba last
week, a derisory offer that is
thought to have confirmed United’s
long-held suspicions that Real have
not had the funds to finance a seri-
ous move for the France midfielder.
Pogba still wants to leave United,
but Solskjaer has been encouraged
by his attitude during pre-season.
United are still hopeful of off-
loading Romelu Lukaku, despite a
potential swap deal for Juventus’
Paulo Dybala falling through. Inter
Milan also remain hopeful of being
able to strike a deal for the Belgium
striker.
In an unexpected turn, Lukaku
flew to Belgium yesterday to train
with Anderlecht’s youth team. He is
understood to have had United’s
permission as the players were on a
day off and is due back at Car-
rington today.Maguire wants to be
thrown straight in
after joining United
Proud day: Harry Maguire, in white, celebrates his move with family and friends
Purple days: Romelu Lukaku training
with Anderlecht’s youth teamThe Daily Telegraph Tuesday 6 August 2019 ** 9