Man Utd boss Solskjaer tells Gary Neville that ‘leader’ Harry Maguire ‘definitely’ can be captain

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has lavished praise on world record signing Harry Maguire by insisting the 26-year-old could become a future captain at Manchester United.

The Norwegian splashed £85million on the former Leicester star this summer, but insisted to Gary Neville that it has been money well spent.

England International Maguire has already formed a promising partnership in central defence with Victor Lindelof.

And he kept his first clean sheet for his new club in United’s 1-0 over his former side Leicester last weekend, with his manager delighted with his performances.

When asked if Maguire had the leadership qualities to captain the club, Solskjaer told Sky Sports: “He does, definitely.

“He’s already been in my head, thinking about him as a future captain because as you see, on the pitch, he’s a leader.

He stands on the ball when we need to slow it down, he defends well, he’s got this presence in both boxes and off the pitch, he is a top professional.

“He’s vocal – he voices his opinion at training and in the dressing room – and I’m very pleased with the money we’ve spent on him.

“He hasn’t asked (to be captain) yet! It’s been in my head that that (he) is looking like one we could give the band to.”

Ashley Young, 34, is the current club captain at United following Antonio Valencia’s departure, but his age means the position is not set to be long-term.

Maguire’s closest competitor for being given the armband in the future would appear to be David De Gea, who has been wearing it when Young is off the pitch.

The United stopper recently committed his future to the club by putting pen to paper on a new contract worth around £350,000-a-week for over a year.