Come on in and join the club! Get our daily Manchester United email newsletter Sign me up! Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Jonny Evans says Manchester United's world record £80million capture of Harry Maguire will prove a bargain over time.

United paid a record fee for a defender when they signed Maguire from Leicester in the summer, eclipsing the £75m Liverpool paid for Virgik van Dijk.

Maguire faces his old club for the first time when Leicester, unbeaten this season and currently third in the table, travel to Old Trafford tomorrow.

And former United defender Evans, who played alongside Maguire at Leicester, reckons the 26-year-old will prove to be money well spent over time for the Reds.

“I think Harry will be at United for eight, nine or 10 years,” said Evans.

(Image: Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)

“When it comes to that point, I think people will look back at the fee and say it was a bargain.

“I've been really impressed with Harry. I think he'll go on to be a real success at United and he could go on to be their captain – there's no doubt about that.

“I only spent a season playing with him, but it felt like we formed a good relationship, on and off the pitch.

“He's a fantastic player and he suits everything United are looking for.

“Not just in his playing style, but how he behaves off the pitch and the personality he can bring.

“He likes to build games out from the back, start attacks and show his personality on the ball.

(Image: WILL OLIVER/EPA-EFE/REX)

“He had a tremendous time at Leicester and is really close with a lot of the boys, so I'm sure it'll be a strange occasion for him, playing against us.”

Evans, 31, who spent a decade playing for United, winning three titles, knows all about the pressure that comes with being at the world's biggest club, but is convinced Maguire can handle it.

“We talk about the pressure of being at United, but I think it's the level of scrutiny that's the hardest thing to get used to,” said Evans.

“It's not necessarily what you're doing on the pitch, it's the fact that everything you do in your life is scrutinised, everywhere you go.

“So it's that level of scrutiny he's going to come under, but he's had that experience with England and I think he handled that tremendously.

(Image: Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)

“Harry's got the personality to handle that. He's a very laid-back character, but also very driven to succeed and a very intelligent guy.

“He's unbelievable with the ball at his feet, can attack the ball wel in the air, and, with all that in his locker, I think he's the complete defender in the modern game.”

Under Brendan Rodgers, Leicester have lofty aims this season, with Evans confident they can improve on last season's ninth-place finish and clinch a European spot.

“Before the season started, our aim was to break into the European places,” said Evans. “We've got ambitions to achieve something this year.

“When we play United at the weekend, we feel we can beat them, and we'll be disappointed if we don't.”