Arsenal legend unsure if Tottenham Hotspur will want Manchester United’s Harry Maguire in defence
Former Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur defender William Gallas is unsure if Harry Maguire will be wanted by manager Antonio Conte at Spurs.
Recently, former Rangers player Ally McCoist suggested on talkSPORT that Maguire could be a good fit for Spurs amidst the England international’s struggles at Manchester United. The former Leicester City defender’s case is peculiar.
He seems to be a top player for England under manager Gareth Southgate, but that form has rarely translated at the club level with Manchester United. He has fallen down the pecking order as a result.
Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez both start ahead of him under new manager Erik ten Hag. It would be odd if the 29-year-old continues to accept being a third choice at Old Trafford.
And hence, a potential move to Spurs, despite there being any concrete suggestions of it right now, wouldn’t be the biggest shock. But according to Gallas, Maguire may not be a good fit for Tottenham.
He told Genting Casino (h/t Manchester Evening News):
“I’m not sure if Tottenham will want him at the back. They need defenders but Maguire would not be good for them. He is almost 30 years old and he does not have as much speed as others. The older Maguire gets, the less speed he will have.”
The former France international then urged the club to sign 20-year-old Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig instead of investing in Maguire.
“Tottenham should invest in players who are younger and who are the future. They should try to sign Gvardiol over Maguire.”
Maguire is experienced, physically and aerially dominant, and can function well in a three-at-the-back system, as he showed with England in the past. Of course, Gvardiol would be the ideal option given his age and potential.
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But that is a tough transfer to seal, with the likes of Chelsea also interested in him recently. Moreover, after the World Cup hype, Gvardiol may not come cheap and he will definitely have more than Spurs as a suitor.
