England’s run in the World Cup could have a few adverse effects on a few clubs. While the likes of Kieran Trippier and Dele Alli are already settled in clubs who can offer Champions League football, one of the players who has been linked with a move more recently is Harry Maguire.
The Leicester City defender had a pretty consistent World Cup 2018 and has subsequently been linked with a move to one of the bigger sides.
He only joined Leicester last summer, but so good have his performances been that he first earned a place in the English World Cup squad and could soon be playing Champions League football.
That’s right, Maguire has been linked with a move to Manchester United as Jose Mourinho is looking for a quality centre-back who can partner Eric Bailly at the heart of the defence. Last season, United had a pretty good defence overall but there were games that showed the defence can improve.
Leicester, of course, will try to play hardball considering there are only a couple of weeks left in the window. However, they have earmarked a replacement in Jamaal Lascelles, if reports are to be believed.
The Newcastle United centre-back had a good season after helping his side to promotion and was touted to make the plane to Russia. A pretty consistent defender himself, he was given the captaincy by Rafa Benitez after his leadership both on and off the pitch.
Jamaal Lascelles – Fact file and what he’ll add to Leicester City
Having joined Newcastle United from Nottingham Forest in 2014, Lascelles was sent back to Forest on loan and he managed to get a few minutes to keep up his impressive development. He made 18 appearances in the 2015-16 season but couldn’t help his side overcome relegation.
It was the Championship where he truly showed what he is capable of as he put in consistent performances. Part of an impressive English core that Benitez built, Lascelles helped his side back to promotion immediately.
Last season, Lascelles made 33 appearances, 32 being starts, and was a key figure at the back. A strong presence in the box, Lascelles is hard to beat in aerial duels and mustered as many as seven clearances on an average.
Still only 24, he’d be a pretty good replacement for Maguire if Leicester do decide to sell the former Hull City man. It remains to be seen whether the player and the club will be keen on a move, considering there isn’t much time left in the Premier League transfer window.
Stats via Whoscored
