Leicester City: Wolves eyeing up Foxes goalkeeper
By Akash Roy
‘Underrated’ is a word applicable to every player who plays for Leicester City, but the word ‘underutilized’ belongs solely to City’s second choice keeper.
Leicester City number two, Danny Ward, has always stepped up when called on. But despite that, the goalkeeper has found few chances to show his true capabilities in between the posts. However, the 27-year-old Welsh shot-stopper has ushered in praises from the pundits for his significant impact playing as the first choice keeper for the Wales national team in Euro 2020.
#Wal team bond summed up by forgotten goalkeeper Danny Ward. By @benfisherj https://t.co/x0FQeqoUsM #Euro2020
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) June 22, 2021
Now, Ward finds himself on the radar of Wolverhampton Wanderers as they search for a new first-choice keeper. Their former goalkeeper, Rui Patricio, is expected to move out to Serie A, permanently to play for Roma after agreeing on personal terms. The backup Wolves’ keeper, John Ruddy, has been offered a new contract, but the 34-year-old has not yet put his signature on it.
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Danny Ward’s dilemma playing for Leicester City
Danny Ward mostly has been a second-choice keeper except for the times he was on loan spells during his Liverpool days. He made just five appearances for the Foxes last season. After his unquestionable, praiseworthy performances in the Euros, he is bound to hold talks with City’s management to be reconsidered by the gaffer.
There is also a possibility that Ward might want to force a move away from the King Power if he is not content with his limited opportunities behind Kasper Schmeichel in the pecking order. It is understandable why the keeper would want to be Wolverhampton’s number one than Leicester’s number two.
For the East Midlanders parting with such a player would be harsh, but it’s not something that they are not unfamiliar with. Impactful players like N’Golo Kanté, Riyad Mahrez, Harry Maguire, and Ben Chilwell have all left for other pastures in the past for fees that have made the Foxes self-sufficient.
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Ward signed for Leicester in 2018 for £12.5 m and has so far made only 14 appearances for the club. That fee should still be sticking around that area, if not more, as he has elevated his price in this tournament. From a business point of view, selling Ward for a reasonable amount will help the Foxes to regain funds that could be crucial in going forwards.