Is Harry Maguire the Leicester player Everton should target?

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Everton are reportedly interested in Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy ahead of the summer.

According to a report from the Daily Mirror over the weekend, Everton have made Leicester striker Jamie Vardy their number one transfer target for the summer as they look to put this underwhelming season behind them.

Before the campaign began, the Toffees were seemingly being tipped by many to be the team that was most likely to break up the top six, and some were even suggesting that they could potentially look at challenging for the top four.

However, much of the first half of the season saw Everton thrown into the discussion regarding teams that may be relegated from the top flight, and while their form since Sam Allardyce arrived as manager has alleviated any concerns over staying up, the season now looks set to fizzle out in unspectacular fashion.

Unsurprisingly therefore, planning for the summer is already underway, and the Mirror recently suggested that moving for Vardy has become a priority for the Merseyside outfit come the end of the season. But perhaps instead of Vardy, it should be one of his Leicester teammates that Everton should be looking at.

Harry Maguire has enjoyed a brilliant first season at the King Power Stadium so far, proving that the Foxes were very wise to gamble on signing him despite the 25-year-old being a part of the Hull City side that were relegated last season.

Maguire has been a rock at the back for Claude Puel’s side, and that rock-like figure is something that Everton have desperately been lacking in defence this term with a number of their centre-backs enduring largely woeful campaigns.

Maguire will certainly not come cheap with The Sun suggesting last month that £50 million could be required to prise him away from Leicester, but if Everton want to get people talking like they were before this season, those are the kind of fees that they will have to expect to spend on players who are in their prime and clearly good enough for a top-half side in the Premier League.

Vardy has been lethal over the last few years for Leicester, but at 31, it is a gamble to pursue a deal as it may not be too long before he is not as influential as he was when the Foxes stunned everyone by winning the title. And there is no guarantee that he will cost significantly less than Maguire anyway.

Strengthening their options at the back should be as big a priority for Everton this summer, and luring Maguire away from the King Power Stadium would be a major statement after what has been a hugely disappointing season.