At the age of 24 and playing as a defender for a club like Hull City in the Premier League, a team that conceded 80 times and kept a mere 5 clean sheets, it is not easy to make your mark on the EPL, let alone the FPL community, but Harry Maguire was able to do so and that is a feat worth noting.
Moving to Leicester for the 2017/18 season, we take a look at how the young Harry Maguire could add value to your Fantasy Premier League Squad.
Fantasy Football Potential
During the 2016/17 campaign, valued at 4.5m, Harry Maguire managed 71 points from the back, scoring 2 goals and assisting two from his 32 appearances. Only his colleague Roberston managed more points as a defender for Hull with 73 points. Although a defender, Harry Maguire caught the eye of many fantasy football managers due to his surges up the pitch, and his pinpoint positioning allowing him to take chances in front of goal earning much valued fantasy points. The Englishman attempted 1.2 shots per game, as well as 0.4 key passes per game, making him an unsuspected threat going forward. At the back, his strong physique earned him 1.9 tackles per game as well as 2.2 interceptions per game. Harry Maguire was not quite a bonus point magnet either, earning just 5 throughout the whole season, but at such a low price, he was notable prospect as Hull were playing for their lives at the end of last season.
Moving to the former England champions could be altering point in the career of the 24-year old defender, who will be looking to use his agility, air ability, and his good positioning to earn more of a reputation during the 2017/18 season. Not expected to rise to much in price, Maguire could provide decent value in a defensive market that failed to produce astonishing point returns last season. Moreover, it wouldn’t be the worst move to have him come off the bench for a Leicester side that is much more robust at the back than his former club. With Kasper in between the sticks and his teammates Morgan and Huth, Maguire could increase his defensive returns massively.
It is fair to say the move to a club like Leicester is well-deserved for the young lad, and if he takes his chances he could prove to be a great signing. On the other hand, he will have stiff competition from his new teammates; Morgan and Huth.
It remains to see if Maguire will walk straight into the team, so it would be greatly advised to keep an eye on Leicester’s preseason preparations and assess accordingly.
Maguire may be a great prospect in the making, but including him in your initial squad could be risky because of his uncertain playing time with proven defenders already in the team. Keeping him in your watch list would be an ideal solution, and as said before, preseason is key for any fantasy managers.
If you have enjoyed this early view of the fantasy potential of those moving teams this transfer window, be sure to check the others here.
Hassan Alaywan (@hassanation)
