Wout Faes has single-handedly transformed Leicester’s defence from soppy to solid
IF you’ve tuned into a Leicester game recently and wondered when David Luiz had returned to the Premier League then you’re almost certainly not alone.
Wout Faes (£2.4m) shares the same position and distinctive hairstyle as the ex-Brazil international but he is very much his own man – the Foxes’ man of the moment in fact.
Tasked with filling the gap left by Wesley Fofana (£3.2m), the Belgian centre-back has single-handedly transformed his side’s defence in recent weeks.
Brendan Rodgers’ side conceded 22 goals in their first seven league games of the season and looked a total mess but they have let in just one goal in their most recent five outings.
This dramatic turnaround has coincided almost exactly with Faes’ introduction to the starting line-up.
We say almost because the 24-year-old’s debut came at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium where Leicester shipped six after a late hat-trick from Son Heung-min (£5.7m).
However, since then Faes has contributed to four clean sheets in five fixtures, a run that has lifted the Foxes off the bottom of the table and out of the relegation zone.
Naturally, this upturn is mirrored in Dream Team returns.
Faes has banked 33 points across the last four Game Weeks at an average of 6.6 per game, making him one of the most in-form assets in his position.
Of course, his overall tally is harmed by that painful hammering at Spurs where he incurred minus five points but still his season average of 4.7 points-per-game is only bettered by five other defenders (minimum three appearances) at this stage.
The list of assets in the ex-Reims defender’s position currently averaging fewer points-per-game includes Ruben Dias (£6m), Gabriel (£3.9m), Reece James (£5.7m) and several other popular options.
Similarly, Timothy Castagne (£2.6m) has racked up 30 points in his last five games and could also be considered a potential Dream Team bargain if Leicester’s transformation into a tight defensive unit is to be a permanent one.
That’s a big if though as even this improved run of form has featured defeat at Bournemouth and a drab draw at home to Crystal Palace, two results that irked the King Power faithful.
Even this weekend’s 4-0 victory over Wolves at Molineux was not quite as it seemed – the hosts registered 21 shots to the Foxes’ five.
Looking forward, Faes’ impressive defensive record is under serious threat this coming Saturday as Leicester welcome Manchester City to the midlands.
Erling Haaland (£9.4m) rarely leaves an opponents’ sheet clean but the Belgian can get through that daunting encounter without suffering severe punishment then he may be able to make up some ground against Everton, Newport and West Ham before the World Cup.
At the very least it’s worth monitoring the returns of Faes and Castagne seeing as they are both so reasonably priced right now.