Manchester United tried to mimic Liverpool, says Owen

Manchester United tried to mimic Liverpool’s success with Virgil van Dijk by paying £80million to sign Harry Maguire, says Michael Owen.

Liverpool paid £75million to sign Virgil van Dijk in 2018 and despite being widely criticised as not being worth the money, the Dutchman has since won the Champions League and UEFA’s Best Player of the Year award.

Manchester United spent £80million this year on Harry Maguire and while there is time for him to make good on that investment, he is yet to prove that he is worthy of being football’s most expensive defender ever.

Michael Owen believes that the Red Devils saw the impact that signing van Dijk had on Liverpool’s fortunes and looked to mimic that by signing Maguire.

“Virgil van Dijk is possibly one of the best signings in recent seasons,” Owen told Premier League Productions.

“He’s a colossus at the back for Liverpool, everybody knows how much he’s improved the defence and those around him.

“Manchester United probably tried to mimic that signing in Harry Maguire but unfortunately the players around him aren’t of the same standard and the same calibre as Virgil van Dijk has got around him.”

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Source: anfieldhq.com