Man Utd must avoid Harry Maguire and Marcos Rojo World Cup repeats

Manchester United have promised a refreshing change of recruitment strategy under CEO Richard Arnold after the failed decade-long Ed Woodward regime. And the Red Devils can’t afford to repeat mistakes of old in the January transfer window after the 2022 World Cup.Erik ten Hag ushered in a new approach in his first summer as the club’s manager, overriding scouting recommendations to sign the players he knew he could trust. However, United have grown infamous for overpaying in transfer fees, and some would argue that was no different in deals for Lisandro Martinez (£57million), Casemiro (£70m) and Antony (£85m).The Old Trafford giants have proven particularly reckless with funds on the back of major tournaments, and Transfermarkt has outed them for three examples after the 2014 and 2018 World Cups in Brazil and Russia, respectively. Louis van Gaal and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer significantly overpaid for Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and Harry Maguire, and the data backs it up.JUST IN: Chelsea’s Reece James details devastation at England World Cup snub Man Utd massively overpaid for Harry Maguire and Marcos Rojo. (Image: GETTY)Before the 2014 World Cup, Sporting CP defender Rojo was valued at £4.5m but propelled to £10.8m after catching the eye on the left side of Argentina’s defence. Later that summer, United signed him for £18m, 67 per cent above his worth. Blind also shone for the Netherlands, boosting his value at Ajax from £5.4m to £10.8m. In came United with a £15.75m offer, 45 per cent north of what they should’ve.But then came 2019… a year after England’s semi-final run in Russia. Harry Maguire’s stock was at its highest at Leicester City, rising from £22.5m to £45m throughout the tournament and the following season. United faced competition from Manchester City and fended it off by splashing a record £78.3m to lure Maguire to M16. It was a staggering 74 per cent higher than his value and a deal they have likely come to regret after Solskjaer’s dismissal.READ MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo ‘threw chair at teacher’ before Man Utd success Man Utd also paid over the odds for Daley Blind. (Image: Getty)