Leyton Orient already have their Dan Happe replacement: View | OneFootball

Leyton Orient defender Dan Happe looks likely to leave the club at the end of the season, but the O’s already have a replacement lined up.

Happe, who has played for the East London club his entire career, will be out of contract in the summer.

He would be sorely missed at the Gaughan Group Stadium, though Orient are in a decent position to deal with his departure.

Dan Happe’s Leyton Orient career

Happe played twice on loan at non-league club Histon before making his O’s debut in a 3-0 defeat to Cambridge United on 8 April 2017.

The defender featured once more that season as the team were relegated to the fifth tier for the first time in their 143-year history.

It was in the National League that Happe became a first team regular, playing 26 times in the 2017-18 season.

And, he made 20 appearances in the following campaign as Justin Edinburgh’s side won the league title.

Over the next four seasons, under various managers, the centre-back played 110 League Two games and established himself as one of the club’s key players.

Most recently, Happe has relished the step up to League One level, forming a solid partnership with Omar Beckles that has helped the team exceed expectations.

He has proven that he can mix it with the best in the division, but this is somewhat unfortunate for Orient as the transfer window approaches.

Happe’s contract coming to an end means that other teams have the option to offer him a deal, and some certainly will.

The O’s will surely try to get an extension done, but they will do very well to see off interest from bigger clubs in League One, and perhaps the Championship.

Dan Happe’s replacement

Should Happe leave this summer, Orient will need to dip in the transfer market to sign another central defender.

However, that signing will not need to replace Happe’s influence, as the O’s already have someone in the squad who can do just that.

Jack Simpson, who signed for Orient in February, has excelled in his three appearances to date.

Simpson was released by Championship club Cardiff in August, because of a scandal, and had been without a club between then and joining Richie Wellens’ side.

“The board and I discussed the possibility of us signing Jack, and we have decided that he deserves his second chance,” Orient chairman Nigel Travis told the club website.

Simpson appears to have settled in well in East London and, after seeing out a six-game suspension, made his League One debut in the 3-1 win over Cheltenham Town.

Replacing Beckles in the backline, the 27-year-old’s composure and passing immediately impressed Orient supporters.

Wellens then threw him into the starting lineup against Exeter City, which ended 2-2, and against Derby County, a 3-0 defeat.

Although the results were disappointing, none of the goals were Simpson’s fault, and the aforementioned attributes remained noticeable.

Three games is a small sample size but the defender's initial numbers suggest he can be a success for the O's. As per Whoscored, he's averaging more tackles (1.3), clearances (4.7), and blocks (1.7) per 90 than both Happe and Beckles while he's also looked after the ball well – as his 37.7 average passes per 90 at 79.6% show.

In Wellens’ system, which heavily involves playing out from the back, Simpson can be a real asset going forward.

It is obvious that the former Bournemouth man, who made 11 Premier League appearances for The Cherries, has played a much higher standard of football.

​​​​​​Like Happe, Simpson is only contracted until the summer, but Orient stated that he arrived ‘with a view to extending his deal in the summer.’