Don’t think that would be a good idea. We’re light enough at CB and can’t see Maguire’s reputation sinking much lower than it is now. Despite people on here making him out to be some footballing caveman, Maguire is a fairly progressive footballer even if he runs a bit awkwardly. He’s a fair bit better than Varane in that regard.
Timber looks excellent but his height/physicality definitely worries me and while it hasn’t posed many problems for Ajax, they would be dominating possession in most of their games and he just won’t be under as much pressure as he is at United (because we have a mid-table midfield or worse). Also, I’m slightly uncomfortable with people already saying he’ll be a back up or play in a different position already. From what I can see, buying back ups rather than immediate starters just isn’t good squad building. The team needs improving right now.
The only qualities I've seen from Maguire honestly in his 3 years is aerial dominance in duels and physical strength.
If we're asking to play a high line, and press aggressively as a team and ask our centre backs to deal with 1v1 situations, you really can't get a worse profile of centre back than Maguire. He just turns and runs too slow. It's not that he isn't fast, it's that he's one of the slowest defenders you'll ever see at this level.
He came here as having a reputation as a ball playing CB but I've not seen it. Looks no more comfortable on the ball than lindelof, varane or bailly.
I agree we're in need of starting 11 quality players, not utility men.