Leicester eye Arsenal transfer target Djene Dakonam from Getafe as Man Utd-bound Harry Maguire replacement – The Sun

BRENDAN RODGERS has made Arsenal and Everton target Djene Dakonam his top target to replace £85million Harry Maguire.

The Leicester boss had looked at Burnley's James Tarkowski and Brighton's Lewis Dunk.

But the ex-Celtic chief has decided Getafe centre-half Dakonam is the man who can fill Maguire's boots, say Spanish sports newspaper Marca.

The 27-year-old defender would line up alongside Northern Ireland international Jonny Evans in a new-look back line for the 2016 Premier League champions.

Rodgers believes 2016 skipper Wes Morgan, 35, will provide back-up for the pairing, along with Caglar Soyuncu and Filip Benkovic.

Gunners boss Unai Emery has been a fan of the Togo centre-back, who has made 70 appearances in La Liga since joining Getafe in 2017.

Ironically, former Foxes chief Claude Puel also wanted Dakonam, known as Djene, last summer, before he was axed.

Rodgers fears Brighton and Burnley would ramp up the price for Dunk and Tarkowski, both England internationals.

So he could nip in with a deal for Djene before Arsenal and Everton step up their interest.

United are close to completing the signing of Maguire after a protracted chase this summer.

Maguire, 26, is believed to have told Leicester he wanted to leave.

But the Foxes would not let him go for less than £85m.

Rodgers said: "You have to pay that premium for a top-level player. He’s just getting his fitness in and we’re quite relaxed on it.”

Source: Read Full Article