Why Alfie Mawson could be a shrewd addition to the Burnley squad
Premier League clubs Fulham, Burnley and West Ham United have all stepped up their interest in buying Swansea City defender Alfie Mawson. The Swans want more than £20m for the player, who was fantastic for them despite their relegation to Championship football.
Clubs are a bit reluctant to pay that much knowing the fact that Mawson had a knee surgery late last season and is still recovering. It seems like Burnley are more interested in the player as they probably need it more than the other two clubs.
The Clarets are almost destined to play Europa League football this season, so they will need a quality centre-back to support the first-choice partnership of James Tarkowski and Ben Mee. Manager Sean Dyche would be keen to get a player like Mawson, who can straight away fit into the system.
Here’s the reason why the Englishman could be a good addition to the Burnley squad:
Player Analysis – Alfie Mawson
Age – 24
Main Position – Centre-back
Mawson’s height (188cm) allows him to dominate aerially against any centre-forward in the Premier League. He has an aerial duel win rate of 3.2 per game in the league, indicating the fact that he can be a danger from set-pieces too.
The 24-year-old is more of a no-nonsense defender, as clearing the situation is his first priority before thinking of a pass. He doesn’t shy away from stepping up off his defensive line to make a vital interception, at an average of 0.9 per game.
In Dyche’s rigid 4-4-2 system, Mawson can slot in as one of the centre-backs and he possesses great qualities to become a success at Turf Moor.
Verdict
Mawson is a high-class centre-back who can be the next big thing if he continues to play at the top level. For that reason, his Premier League move this season is quite vital. Meanwhile, for Burnley, this is an opportunity to get a very good player and enhance the quality of their defence.
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Furthermore, the Clarets playing Europa League football means they need good quality depth when rotation will be a necessity. Mawson has the potential to challenge the first-choice pair of Mee and Tarkowski to break into the manager’s plans.
Stats Courtesy – Whoscored.com