If Leicester City are going to replace Harry Maguire, they’ll have to act quickly as the transfer deadline is rapidly creeping up on the Premier League with the window slamming shut on Thursday evening.
The later they leave it, the less likely it is for other clubs to be able to replace their departing man – which may give some indication to why a number of current Premier League centre-backs are being considered to replace Maguire.
According to the Sky Sports, both AFC Bournemouth’s Nathan Ake and Burnley’s James Tarkowski are the front-runners on top of the Foxes’ shortlist whilst they were also linked to Brighton’s Lewis Dunk earlier in the summer.
The reports state that Tarkowski would cost over £40m with a release clause £50m within his contract whilst Ake is valued at £75m by the South Coast side.
Brendan Rodgers does also have a number of options already at the club he could call upon including Premier League title-winning captain Wes Morgan, £19m man Caglar Soyuncu and Filip Benkovic who Rodgers signed on loan whilst at Celtic at the start of last season.
A number of fans took to social media to discuss who they wanted to replace the £80m Manchester United-bound Maguire.
The overriding consensus was that of Ake with one supporter stating he would be preferable but it would likely be the harder of the two deals whilst one said the Dutchman would add something new to their defence.
This was backed-up by another fan who believed that Evans needs a partner with pace and that’s what Ake could bring over a player like Tarkowski. One supporter called the Bournemouth star the perfect choice to take Maguire’s place.
Though, not all was positive as one member of the King Power crowd labelled both options as overrated, questioning why the club should even waste the Maguire money when they still have four centre-backs on the books.
Here’s the best of the reaction:
Tough choice. I like them both but think Ake would help us more and bring something new to our defence.
— Baz (@Too_Bazzy) August 4, 2019
Ake would be preferable but I think it might be the harder of the two deals to complete before Thursday. Unless we pay ridiculous money.
— Edd Kent (@El_Deceptico) August 4, 2019
Both overrated; Tarkowski had one good season 2 years ago, and because Ake is Dutch and can pass the ball, everybody seems to forget how poor Bournemouth's defensive record is. We have 4 centre-halves, why bother wasting the Maguire money. #lcfc
— Daniel Cox (@danielcox194) August 3, 2019
Ake fits more than the others in my opinion. Only 24, defends well, gets the odd goal and Brendan cam improve him. Left footed too so can be a like for like replacement for Maguire.
— Andy Spooner (@SpoonerajsAndy) August 3, 2019
Neither. Whomever we go for atm we will be overcharged because we stuck to our guns about Maguire. Don’t make teh salty Manure fans happy, either keep the cash for now or buy outside of the PL ?
— Blue Windows ???? (@nigelward1771) August 4, 2019
Of course whoever we get in is going to be over priced Ake was touted at £40m to Man city we go in for him they know we’ve got a few quid to spend & suddenly his price goes rocketing to £60-70m we know it’ll happen if we want Ake like it or not but we’ll have to fork out for him
— Rob (@justfoxes) August 4, 2019
Always said Nathan Ake would be my perfect choice to replace Maguire ????
— L1 (@L1Block) August 3, 2019
Please let it be Ake lot more pace and energy compared to Tarkowski, Evan’s needs a partner with pace
— David Hansford (@DaveH1966) August 3, 2019