This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Regular Punter’ series, where we gather original opinions from select, passionate fans of the clubs concerned on matters surrounding their team and share them with a wider audience…

Football League World’s Preston North End fan pundit Tom Coulston-Herrmann has suggested losing defender Ben Davies would be “a massive blow” amidst reported interest from a number of Premier League clubs.

Davies has been integral for Preston this season, starting in every Championship game and helping Alex Neil’s side club to third in the table.

According to The Sun, Brighton have been sending their scouts to view the centre-back and are lining up an offer amidst rumoured competition from Newcastle United, Everton and Wolves.

The 24-year-old is a product of the Preston academy and cemented his place in the first team in the 2017/18 season.

This season he has formed a formidable partnership with summer signing Patrick Bauer in central defence and Coulston-Herrmann indicated that he is very important to the side.

He explained: “I think if Ben Davies was to leave it would be a massive blow.

“He has really established himself as a top Championship player. He’s left-footed which is rare in a centre-back these days.

“He offers us great balance next to Patrick Bauer, which would make him very hard to replace, as they complement each other so well."

Coulston-Herrmann suggested that it would be vital that Preston brought in a replacement for Davies if they let him go.

He said: “The club would certainly need to bring in a replacement. We have Jordan Storey who was brilliant last season but he’s right-footed so I think we’d need some balance so a left-sided centre-half would be needed.”

Due to the international break, Preston have to wait 11 days for their next Championship game–a trip to face Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

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