£3 Million-Rated Leicester City Star Keen To Leave Before January Window Closes
Leicester City could allow former first-choice goalkeeper Danny Ward to leave the club before the January transfer window closes, according to the latest reports.
Ward moved to the King Power Stadium back in 2018 from English giants Liverpool for a reported £12.5 million, although his market value is now set at merely £3 million, as per Transfermarkt. However, the Wales international was forced to take a seat on the bench for his first four years with the Foxes as Kasper Schmeichel was holding down the number ‘1’ berth between the sticks.
In his first four campaigns with Leicester City, Ward made 19 appearances in all competitions but the shot-stopper earned his big break when Schmeichel was sold to French outfit Nice in 2022. The ex-Wrexham keeper played 26 times in the Premier League as the Foxes were relegated to the Championship.
Nevertheless, Ward was displaced in the starting lineup by Daniel Iversen once Dean Smith took charge of the side towards the end of the 2022/23 campaign. The Welshman hasn’t reclaimed his place in the first eleven since then and has failed to make a single appearance this season for the former Premier League champions.
It was reported at the weekend by The Sun that top-flight strugglers Sheffield United were keen to upgrade their goalkeeper department and have identified Ward as the perfect player to do so on loan for the remainder of the campaign.
Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett added to this on Tuesday evening, claiming that Ward is keen to leave the club to get more first-team football [quotes via Sheffield United News]:
“Sheffield United are interested in exploring a deal with Leicester City for goalkeeper Danny Ward. Sky Sports News has already reported that the Blades are in the market for a goalkeeper this window, with former Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel among those they are interested in.
“But Sky Sports News has been told Ward is higher up on new manager Chris Wilder’s list of candidates. He is likely to be cheaper in terms of wages, and is keen on a move which will get him more first-team football – his only appearances this season have been internationally for Wales.”
It will be interesting to see whether head coach Enzo Maresca allows Ward to leave on loan or not this winter, although the Italian has already admitted that the club will discuss a potential exit once they receive an offer for the keeper.
However, Leicester City have already allowed Iversen to head to Stoke City on loan since the January window opened up, meaning it could be risky to let another keeper leave the club without a replacement.
