Brighton have slapped a £40m asking price on Lewis Dunk’s head to ward off interest from Leicester, claims The Sun.
Leicester have earmarked Dunk as a potential transfer target amid growing interest from Manchester United in Harry Maguire.
Brendan Rodgers’ side are prepared to sell Maguire this summer but are holding out for an offer in the region of £90m.
Leicester have already rejected United’s offer of £70m and are prepared to pay hardball over the price.
While United accept they are having to pay over-inflated prices for their transfer targets, Leicester have now been told to expect the same.
Brighton are determined to keep hold of star defender Dunk and will force Leicester or any other interested club to pay more than £40m to land the 27-year-old.
Graham Potter’s side are under no pressure to sell Dunk, who has spent his entire career at Brighton, as the towering centre-back still has four years left to run on his current deal.
Only two players have blocked more shots in the Premier League over the last two campaigns than Dunk (96), though his willingness to throw himself into the line of duty has come at a cost as he has scored the most own goals in the division in that time (four).
