According to The Sun, Brighton & Hove Albion weigh up a move for Preston defender Ben Davies. The Seagulls are believed to be leading Wolverhampton Wanderers, Newcastle United and Everton in the pursuit of the 24-year-old, who has impressed the onlookers with his performances in the Championship this season. The Premier League club are eyeing a move in the upcoming January transfer window, though they have to fork out around £10 million.
Davies’ success at Preston
A product of the Preston youth academy, Davies had endured a rusty start to his senior career at the club. He was initially promoted to the first-team in 2013. But, he never really managed to make a breakthrough and was sent out on loan five times.
His loan spells include playing at clubs like Newport County, Southport and York City among a couple of others. He most recently played for Fleetwood during the second half of the 2016/17 campaign, before returning to Preston in the summer of 2017.
Since then, Davies has gradually become a key part of the Preston backline. Since returning to the club in 2017, the 24-year-old has appeared in 87 competitive matches. He notably played 40 league games for Preston last season and has featured in every minute of their current Championship campaign.
What can he bring to the table?
A centre back by trade, Davies is advertised as a ball-playing defender. He is excellent when it comes to distributing possession from the back. But, aside from that, the Preston star is also capable of making strong tackles while his imposing 1.85m frame gives him a considerable advantage in aerial duels. He is always a commanding presence at the back.
Do Brighton really need Davies?
Brighton & Hove Albion are generally known for their dogged defensive nature. New signing Adam Webster has already settled in well and has become a first-team regular in central defence, alongside Lewis Dunk.
However, Shane Duffy has struggled with injury, and although Dan Burn has been doing well, the addition of someone like Davies could further solidify the Brighton backline. That being said, the Seagulls may need to get rid of Leon Balogun to make way for Davies.
Overall, Davies could be a good investment for Potter as he aims to lead Brighton out of the relegation scrap this season.
