The Magpies could be cruising to promotion with the Brighton centre-back at the heart of their backline.
After being denied the opportunity to sign Brighton and Hove Albion’s rock at the back Lewis Dunk for the second summer in succession, The Chronicle reported in July, Newcastle United completed their swoop for Blackburn Rovers captain Grant Hanley a week later.
And while the Scotland international has started just once in the Championship since an opening day debut defeat to Fulham, Dunk has only reinforced his reputation as perhaps the finest defender outside the top flight.
“We have received a bid for Lewis Dunk and it has been very firmly rejected without any discussion,” Brighton chief executive Paul Barber told The Argus in the summer.
“We are very busy assembling – and soon we will be preparing – our squad for another attempt at securing promotion to the Premier League.”
And, nine months on, The Seagulls’ hardline approach has been vindicated. Brighton, and Dunk, may have lost 2-1 to a late Newcastle comeback on Tuesday to fall two points behind Rafael Benitez’s side at the top but the 25-year-old was as impressive as ever at the heart of the defence.
In fact, he was arguably the host’s most impressive player against The Magpies and his consistency throughout the season is a major factor why Brighton have the joint best defensive record in the division.
Newcastle may have conceded an equal number of goals but, with Jamaal Lascelles making a number of errors recently and doubts persisting about their options in reserve, they would surely be more than two points clear if they had plucked Dunk from their major rivals in the summer.
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