Rating every Manchester United signing this season
By Bence Bocsak
Harry Maguire – 8/10
Transfer fee: £78.30 million
Position: Centre-back
Games played this season: 41
Goals played this season: 2
Assists this season: 2
There was ridicule and mockery when Manchester United decided to bring ‘slab head’ to Old Trafford. No one questioned Harry Maguire’s ability, the centre back had proven himself at the highest level in the World Cup and was a standout performer for Leicester City during the previous season.
What many doubted was the fee. When Maguire moved to United he became the most expensive defender in the world. More expensive than Virgil van Dijk.
And when you compare Maguire’s impact to the impact van Dijk made at Liverpool, there will be some disappointment.
However if you ignore the fee, Maguire has been quite an astute signing by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
He seems like was destined to wear the Red Devils crest and his valiant performances have earned him various plaudits.
He has become a cult favourite at Old Trafford.
When club captain Ashley Young left for Inter Milan in January, it was Maguire who was named as the man to replace him.
And no one even batted an eye it seemed only natural.
One can only hope, Maguire gets better and better as the overall quality of Solskjaer’s squad improves.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 7/10
Transfer fee: £49.5 million
Position: Right Back
Games played this season: 34
Goals scored this season: 0
Assists this season: 2
Many raised eyebrows when Roy Hodgson decided to put a natural right winger at right back for Crystal Palace towards the end of the 2017/18 season. However after some impressive performances by Aaron Wan-Bissaka against the likes of Liverpool, the eyebrows quickly slunk back into their place.
Still after only just a single full season in the Premier League the almost £50 million United forked out for Wan Bissaka should certainly be regarded as an excessive purchase. Albeit a necessary one. The Red Devils have lacked a sturdy right back for some time, and someone needed to fill the void left behind by Antonio Valencia.
Wan-Bissaka has done well, defensively he has been a stalwart figure at the back. However the England U21 international is still young and there are some areas of his game which need to be polished.
Offensively, Wan-Bissaka should be better, but already he is showing glimpses and with time he will put those concerns behind him.