Manchester United fans will love what Sir Alex Ferguson said about Maguire transfer

Ferguson said Manchester United should have locked Harry Maguire in the boardroom until he signed [Courtesy]

Sir Alex Ferguson said Manchester United should have locked Harry Maguire in the boardroom until he signed for the Red Devils.

United struck an agreement with Leicester City on Friday to sign the England international for a whopping £80million.

The transfer will see Maguire become the most expensive defender of all time with the fee eclipsing the £75million Liverpool spent on Virgil van Dijk.

Ferguson has been a keen admirer of Maguire for some time and even instructed David Moyes to take a look at the then Sheffield United centre-back before he handed him the reins at Old Trafford at the close of the 2013 season.

According to the MEN, when asked about the Red Devils' pursuit of Maguire Ferguson provided a typical response.

The legendary Manchester United boss joked: "They should take the lad in the boardroom and not let him out until he's signed!" 

Maguire first caught Ferguson's eye in the FA Youth Cup final of 2011.

The Red Devils, boasting the likes of Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard, came out on top against Maguire's Sheffield United.

The centre-back suffered concussion in the match and was required to visit the hospital.

Ferguson called the defender that night and told him he'd become a world-beater if he kept his head down and worked hard for the next few years.