Liverpool legend Phil Thompson has called on the club to launch a last-minute swoop for Leicester City centre-back Harry Maguire, who is a key target for rivals Manchester United.
Maguire has enjoyed a breakthrough summer after starring for England in their run to the World Cup semi-finals in Russia, and Thompson believes another quality centre-back is the final piece of the jigsaw for the Reds.
The former Reds defender has urged the club to hijack United’s interest in the 25-year-old centre-back, in a swoop which would turn the club into a “real force.”
Speaking to Sky Sports, Thompson said: “I like what Jurgen Klopp has done by trying to strengthen the players behind the front three and get more goals from that area. That part of the team is where you win titles and Fabinho, Shaqiri and Keita can provide that additional firepower. Lallana is also back.
“With one more centre-back, Liverpool can be a real force; I’d be looking at snatching Harry Maguire from under Manchester United’s noses.”
As reported by the Daily Mail, Maguire is rated around £65million by Leicester.
OPINION
To round off a window of lavish spending with another big-money signing like Maguire would be a huge statement of intent from Liverpool, who would certainly be the closest challengers to Manchester City in 2018/19 if it happened. Maguire is the defender on everybody’s lips following his stellar displays for England at the World Cup, and the former Sheffield United trainee is likely to be plying his trade at a big club soon enough. It does however look like Maguire will be remaining at Leicester City for another season despite heavy interest from United, and Liverpool therefore look unlikely to be able to muscle in and secure a deal for him either. The overwhelming time constraints in place with just three days left in the window mean a deal would be almost impossible to reach, with the Foxes needing to bring in a replacement for the England man before allowing a deal to take place.
