Did Everton target the wrong man as Harry Maguire shines at the World Cup?

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England are through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup after a penalty shoot-out triumph against Colombia. There were many stars of the night. Harry Kane was superb up front whilst Jordan Pickford was the penalty hero. But Harry Maguire was sensational yet again in a back three for England. The Leicester city man is quickly becoming one of the standout performers from the competition and has bigger clubs surely considering a move.

For Everton, it must be something of a sickener.

Last summer the Toffees were after a new central defender. One man who fit the bill was Maguire, who had just been relegated with Hull City. He was one of the Tigers outstanding players and a move to a Premier League side was always going to happen.

Everton, meanwhile, were looking for a new central defender. According to the Liverpool Echo, they had whittled down the shortlist to just two options.

The players in question were Michael Keane and Maguire. In the end, Everton signed the Burnley man. He cost the club £30 million whilst Maguire headed to Leicester City, in a deal worth a reported £17 million.

Since then, Maguire has usurped Keane in the England pecking order whilst the Everton man struggled with form and fitness for much of last term – before a far more impressive tail-end of the season.

But for £13 million less Everton could have had a player who is looking like being one of the best central defenders at the World Cup this summer.

They may have gone for the wrong man.