The latest name to be linked with a move to Leicester City is Burnley’s Dwight McNeil. Is he the right left-winger?
As the first glimpse of Premier League action post lockdown is upon us, transfer speculation is becoming increasingly popular. Is Burnley’s Leicester City-linked winger Dwight McNeil a good option?
The 20-year-old has had an impressive second season in the Premier League, contributing two goals and five assists to a Burnley side currently residing in tenth place – which is 21% of all their goals this season.
Breaking into The Clarets is no easy feat, they have a specific style of play – a reliance on set-pieces and an excessive use of the wings, that doesn’t have much variation. If you don’t fit that mould, you’re unlikely to find much success at Turf Moor but McNeil optimises that and more.
Considering the importance of set pieces to Dyche’s Burnley team, McNeil is one of the men tasked with delivering free-kicks and corners, as well as Ashley Westwood and Johann Berg Gudmundsson. However, what’s truly solidified his spot in left midfield is his effectiveness at old-fashioned wing play, that has seen him, alongside James Tarkowski, Ben Mee and Nick Pope, start every game this season.
His impact in Lancashire has been felt, so much so, that Sean Dyche has started building his team around the impressive youngster. Would they sell to Leicester, a premiership rival, as reported? Probably not, without a huge offer.
Burnley predominantly play a 4-4-2 – they’ve started 27 of their 29 Premier League games this season in that formation, within this system teams will opt for two central midfielders and two wingers to provide offensive support to the two strikers, but that’s not how Dyche operates with McNeil.
To allow McNeil more freedom, Dyche plays a third central midfielder on the right-hand side (ordinarily, Jeff Hendrick) to form an asymmetrical 4-4-2. By playing a third central midfielder, Dyche is alleviating a few of the defensive responsibilities for McNeil and letting him express himself in more advanced areas of the pitch. A gamble which has definitely paid off.
Out of the players consistently playing for Burnley, McNeil has provided the best “goal-creating actions per 90”, with a total of 0.36. This may not sound overly impressive, but that statistic requires one of the forwards to score after the move has been created by McNeil. If looking at “shot-creating actions per 90”, the youngster tops that list as well, with an average of 2.71.
There’s a distinct pattern to the chances McNeil creates. He’ll hug the touchline, receive the ball and look to beat his man on the outside, before delivering an impeccable cross for either Chris Wood or Ashley Barnes to attack.
Undeniably, the 20-year-old is a superb, natural crosser of the ball – he’s made 192 crosses this season alone, only five players have completed more this season – one of which is James Maddison.
The last time Leicester City acquired a left midfielder from a side playing in claret and blue it was Marc Albrighton. In 2014/15, Albrighton left Villa Park to apply his trade in the East Midlands, which has turned out to be one of the Foxes’ best ever deals – given he signed on a free transfer.
The similarities between the two players span further than the colours of the shirts they represented (potentially) before moving to Leicester City, their attributes are also incredibly similar. The last time Albrighton enjoyed as much game time as McNeil has had this season, he ended the campaign with 214 completed crosses (2017/18, Albrighton started 30 of Leicester City’s 38 Premier League matches).
The main difference between the two is the price, as mentioned before, Albrighton was a spectacular free transfer but McNeil will cost a lot more. Sean Dyche has already alluded to the fact clubs are interested in the 20-year-old and with him being The Clarets most highly regarded asset, it will cost the Foxes a considerable amount of money.
McNeil has a supposed current market value of £16.2m, but that doesn’t paint the proper picture. Once you’ve put his age, nationality and importance to Burnley into consideration, you’re looking at a £45m player, at least.
Given that Leicester City have strayed away from playing target men strikers during the Claude Puel and Brendan Rodgers era, McNeil’s ability to deliver a cross becomes slightly redundant. If needed, Albrighton has always justified his place in the squad whenever he’s been called upon.
I don’t believe Dwight McNeil is worth the money for the Foxes, however, that shouldn’t downplay the quality he possesses. In a Brendan Rodgers side, the wingers need to play like wide strikers, scoring more goals than an old-fashioned crosser of the ball. Currently McNeil falls short on those requirements.