‘Maguire is overpriced but market is mad’ - Lineker sees £80m deal as standard

The ex-England striker considers a record-breaking price tag to be “just a number”, with the Red Devils having to spend big to tick a defensive box

Harry Maguire should be considered “overpriced” as an £80 million ($96m) addition at Manchester United, but the transfer market is now so “mad” that such fees should be viewed as “just a number” says Gary Lineker.

When asked by Sport Bible if the United new boy’s asking price can be considered a bargain or baffling, he said: “Both. Of course, he's overpriced because the market is mad.

“First thing you think is ‘oh, £80 million, that's a lot for a centre-half’ and it is, it's a mad amount of money.

“We've [Leicester] lost a really good player so what's important now is how that money is spent on replacements. It could be really beneficial, but for supporters, they're losing another good player just as they start to think we're doing well.

“Manchester United needed a ball-playing central defender and [Ole Gunnar] Solskjaer wanted Maguire. He's a terrific player so the board backed him.

“Some Manchester United fans will say ‘oh we've overpaid’, but it doesn't make any difference to them. It's just a number, isn't it? The club will still make loads of money.

“Liverpool fans said it about Van Dijk, but nobody's saying it now. Van Dijk's gone on to be brilliant.”