'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Tony Pulis has revealed that he turned down the opportunity to sign Manchester United defender Harry Maguire for West Bromwich Albion in favor of Jonny Evans a few years ago.
Both Maguire and Evans are now part of the Red Devils side after the latter joined a one-year deal this summer. The Northern Ireland international became available after leaving relegated Leicester City.
Evans, 35, returned to Manchester United after previously leaving for West Brom in 2015 for £6 million. Pulis was in charge of the Baggies at the time, and it appears that he was also offered the opportunity to sign Maguire.
However, Pulis wasn't too fond of signing the former Red Devils captain as he preferred his new United teammate Evans, telling the Baggies Podcast:
“(West Brom chairman) John Williams had said Maguire. But I thought Jonny Evans was better than Maguire. They’ll argue that Maguire went to Leicester and then got sold for an absolute fortune. But I thought Jonny was better than Maguire.”
Maguire was at Hull City at the time, and his stock was growing as one of English football's rising stars. He headed to Leicester in 2017 before joining Manchester United two years later for £80 million, a world record fee for a defender.
However, his spell at Old Trafford has been a tumultuous one, as his performances have been constantly under the microscope. He has also struggled with the burden of his world record transfer fee and club captaincy.
Maguire has made 176 appearances for the Red Devils, winning the Carabao Cup in February, but didn't start the final win against Newcastle United. He's now joined at the club by Evans who was his replacement at Leicester, coincidentally.
The Northern Irish defender enjoyed five years at the King Power, making 152 appearances, and was part of the Foxes side that won the 2020-21 FA Cup.
Roy Keane's damning verdict of Manchester United's transfer business, namedrops Maguire and Evans
The Red Devils were expected to make changes to their defense during the summer transfer window. Maguire's future was in doubt after falling down the pecking order under Erik ten Hag.
The England international started just eight of 16 league games last season. He's behind Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof. West Ham United handed him the opportunity to depart, but he opted to remain at Old Trafford despite a £30 million deal being agreed, per Sky Sports.
There were many targets that Ten Hag had in mind to bolster his rearguard, including OGC Nice's Jean-Clair Todibo. However, a move for the Frenchman was only possible had Maguire departed.
Manchester United instead signed Evans on a one-year deal after he had spent pre-season working on his fitness with the team. His and Maguire's place in Ten Hag's squad have been questioned by Roy Keane, though.
The Red Devils icon has suggested that the veteran duo paint a picture of where United are at, telling Sky Sports:
"Harry Maguire, they tried to move him on this summer. Jonny Evans left the club around five years ago because he wasn't wanted... now, I like Jonny; he's a lovely guy, but you can see where they're at."
Both came on in the second half of a 3-1 Premier League defeat to Arsenal on September 3. A defensive injury crisis left Ten Hag relying on his fourth and fifth options who many wouldn't have expected to see playing for Manchester United this season.
