Where can Leicester City be with 5 more years of Harry Maguire

The best news the Blue Army could have hoped for emerged from the King Power Stadium Sunday. Leicester City and England favourite Harry Maguire signed a new 5-year deal, keeping him at the club until 2023. How will this affect the team’s progression?

Harry Maguire has been excellent for Leicester City since signing little over a year ago. He was so exceptional that he gained a senior England call-up and played five games at the World Cup.

A dramatically good performance saw the Sheffield born defender’s star rise rapidly – Manchester United tried to buy him this summer, to no avail. Sky Sports suggest huge clubs made a mistake by not obtaining Maguire. The Foxes can now use his stature to attract more exemplary players in upcoming transfer windows.

At last, Maguire has committed his future to the Foxes for the foreseeable future. Yet, it is unlikely a player in demand from footballing superpowers, as Maguire is, will stay longer than another year or two, maximum. Some consider these scenarios an empty gesture. Time will tell.

Although, the Blue Army will welcome his lengthened potential tenure. Leicester City are now in prime position to receive the highest ever transfer fee for a defender – which currently stands at £75m – from Liverpool’s capture of Virgil Van Dijk.

Can Leicester get to Europe again?

Survival is always most important at a club the size of Leicester City. Yes, the owners have raised modern expectations and delivered the undeliverable – a Premier League title. However, with Maguire, Kasper Schmeichel, Jamie Vardy and Wilfred Ndidi signing lengthy deals – the future is incredibly bright at the King Power Stadium. It is fair for aspirations to be higher at present.

An FA Cup or League Cup triumph is all the more likely with additional squad regulars like the former Hull City man. In fact, European qualification is a realistic aim – whether through cup victories or a sixth/seventh place premiership finish.

Oozing quality and respect

According to Opta, “No defender contested more aerials (54), won more aerials (41), attempted more shots (11) and had more touches in the opposition box (23) than England and Leicester City’s Harry Maguire at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Rewarded.”

Squad morale boosts from any event even nearly as monumental as the 6-foot-four centre-back‘s fresh signature on paper. A happy, self-assured team will train harder and longer. On the subject of happiness, Maguire exclaims his pleasure:

"“Ever since I came to this Club, I’ve always reiterated how good they’ve been to me. They gave me an opportunity to play in the Premier League and built a great platform for me to go and perform at the World Cup, so I thank them a lot. I owe them a lot and I’m looking forward to the future.”– Harry Maguire (Via: lcfc.com)"

There may also be a helping hand to future senior internationals James Maddison, Ben Chilwell and Demarai Gray in the form of the Sheffield born defender. Form players Chilwell and Gray find themselves chosen for promotion by Gareth Southgate: symbolically, the fixture they join for is Tuesday’s clash with Switzerland at the King Power.

The best news of the 2018/19 campaign emerged around Sunday lunchtime.

A natural leader, Maguire played every minute for Leicester City in the league last season and was “pivotal” in the top half finish, according, accurately, to lcfc.com.

A delighted Maguire Tweeted his excitement at devoting his loyalty to the Foxes. Even if the imposing defender decides to leave before his deal expires – Leicester can demand a record price.

With Claude Puel’s carte blanche to indulge in squad and style refinement almost perfectly managed, Maguire is the final piece of the puzzle to Leicester City’s progress to the top of the ‘league within a league’ – attaining seventh Premier League position and a cup run to emulate the Three Lions.