Leicester City are set to lose one of their star player in Harry Maguire, who is set to join Premier League side Manchester United ahead of the 2019-20 Premier League season.
The Foxes, however, have reacted quickly and are all set to sign a replacement for the England defender. Brighton captain Lewis Dunk is a target, and could join for a fee of around £45 million.
Manager Brendan Rodgers is reportedly a fan of Dunk, who has come through the ranks at Brighton, making his debut back in 2010 for the club, and has stayed the club entire time apart from a very short spell on loan at Bristol City.
The Sun claim that Dunk and James Tarkowski of Burnley are the two players in Rodgers’ shortlist to replace Maguire.
Dunk has been an important figure in Brighton’s rise to the Premier League from League One. The 27-year-old has made over 250 appearances for the club, and was a part of the Brighton side promoted to the Premier League in 2017.
The Englishman has also represented his country, having made his debut against the United States last year.
Is Lewis Dunk a smart choice to replace Harry Maguire?
Maguire has grown as a player in the last two seasons, becoming one of the best defenders in the league, and it will be difficult for Leicester to replace him.
Dunk, though, could be the answer to fill the huge void left by Maguire when the latter moves away from Leicester.
The Brighton centre-half is a leader at the back, who takes command of the defence, organising and motivating his fellow defenders, while he also has great determination and defending skills.
A no-nonsense defender, Dunk averaged 5.4 clearances in the Premier League last year, while averaging 1.2 successful tackles in the season – more than the 1 tackle per game that Maguire averaged last season, and 1.3 interceptions, which is similar to what Maguire (1.2) achieved.
A neat passer of the ball from the back, Dunk did not average as much as Maguire in the passing category, averaging 41.4 passes per game, compared to 56.4 passes, but he could reach Maguire’s figures if he plays for a better team like Leicester City.
Dunk could be a very shrewd buy as he is a leader at the back, knows the Premier League, and has similar attributes to what Maguire has.