BLUEBIRDS IN CHASE FOR LEICESTER KEEPER

Is Runnarson going back?


Cardiff City set for transfer battle with Sheffield United for Leicester City player
BY Ben Wignall

Danny Ward has not been in Leicester's first-team squad this season, and he could be about to get the chance to go and play football once more

Leicester City's rebuild following their relegation from the Premier League has seen a number of experienced players fall by the wayside at the King Power Stadium - ones who are either getting limited minutes or are not being seen at all.

And when the Foxes landed Danish goalkeeper Mads Hermansen from Brondby in the summer, the writing was somewhat on the wall for Danny Ward's future at the East Midlands outfit.

Hermansen was immediately installed as first-choice by Maresca, and that relegated the experienced Ward to joint third-choice with Daniel Iversen, with even the untested Jakub Stolarczyk ahead of them in the pecking order.

Ward played 26 times in the Premier League for Leicester last season and was the favoured choice of Brendan Rodgers in-between the sticks, but not long before the Northern Irishman was sacked as manager last year, Ward was dropped for Iversen and he has never regained his place in the starting 11.

Danny Ward's Leicester City Premier League Stats 2022-23

Appearances: 26

Clean Sheets: 6

Goals Conceded Per Game: 1.8

Saves Per Game: 3.0

Saves Made: 78

Goals Prevented: -8.77

Touches Per Game: 41.3

Pass Accuracy: 70%

Clearances Per Game: 0.7

Stats Provided By Sofascore

The 30-year-old has not made a single appearance in any competition so far in 2023-24, and he still has a year-and-a-half left to run on the contract extension that he signed in 2021 - the Wales international though could be set for a lifeline with two clubs interested in signing him.

Cardiff City want Ward but face Sheffield United competition

The Bluebirds are keen to loan Ward in for the second half of the season and bring him back to his home country, with regular first-team football potentially going some way for the ex-Liverpool man to secure his spot in the Wales starting 11 at EURO 2024 if they make it.

Cardiff boss Erol Bulut already added a loan goalkeeper in the summer in the form of Arsenal's Runar Alex Runarsson, but the Icelandic stopper has disappointed and he could be sent back to the Emirates Stadium if City can land a replacement.

The favourites to sign Ward though are top flight strugglers Sheffield United, with Chris Wilder looking to replace Wes Foderingham at Bramall Lane.

Nixon claims that the Blades have already contacted Leicester about a deal for Ward, and they are keen to either sell their out of favour stopper or loan him out with an obligation to buy.

Cardiff may have to look elsewhere if Sheffield United are serious about Ward

If Premier League football is on the table for Ward - even for a few months - then he's likely going to take it.

Wes Foderingham hasn't been impressive this season for United and it's no real surprise that Wilder is looking at other options, and whilst Ward will be a bit rusty having not played in 2023-24 yet, he's still got plenty of experience.

Cardiff will probably be hoping that Sheffield United's interest cools, but they do perhaps need an improvement on Runarsson, who has failed to impress the fans in the Welsh capital since his arrival.

The Bluebirds' recruitment team must have some alternative options on their mind if Ward does head to Bramall Lane, but they should be making a big push for his services at the same time.


https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/cardi ... anny-ward/

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Ward is a miles better keeper than Runnarsson. He needs game time too in case we qualify for the Euros... It makes sense for both parties

Ward is a miles better keeper than Runnarsson. He needs game time too in case we qualify for the Euros... It makes sense for both parties

I agree; but getting Ward over Sheffield United would take a bit of a coup...

Would be great for both parties . Great for us to have a keeper of quality ( we don’t at the moment in my opinion ) and wales no 1 . But Ward needs to be playing at a high level regular for his and Wales sake so win win

Is ward better than Alnwick though. Not for me. And if he isn't better. He's going to just sit on the bench here aswell. And I'd imagine ex prem keeper his wage will be a tidy bit.

Ward isn’t better than Alnwick though in my honest opinion.
He will be on a big wage too, and he’s not known to be comfortable with his feet which Bulut clearly wants from his GK.

Great keeper just what we Need

Ward is a miles better keeper than Runnarsson. He needs game time too in case we qualify for the Euros... It makes sense for both parties

I agree; but getting Ward over Sheffield United would take a bit of a coup...

it would, but there is every chance we will be in the same division as them next season one way or another...

Prefer Alnwick

Ward would be excellent addition and give Alnwick real competition unlike Runnarson who everyone could see wasn’t up to it.
Ward, Brooks and Moore would be great additions for club and country and help all parties….
Ramsey,Ward,Brooks and Moore….I’m dreaming!!!!

I'd have 'goalkeeper' as right down the priority list, to be honest. Alnwick should be our #1 with injury cover. Someone made a good point about his wages.

Not for me.

Think Danny Ward would be terrible signing, any of the two U 18 goalkeepers would do a better job than him, either Luke Armstrong or Joe Thomas, They have shown great promise in the U18 especially Armstrong.

Really ????
Only positive he's Welsh no better than what we have.
Not my choice sorry!

I prefer Ethan Horvath. He played an important part in getting Luton promoted through the playoffs last season.

Alnwick is fine, Ward too and if this is true it shows that Luthra and Turner are not fancied for the top spots right now, so maybe just prudent cover.

I don’t know what’s going on in Runarsson but clearly not going to be involved for the rest of the season. He’s not injured.

I’d be surprised if Arsenal recalled him because they just want him off their books when his contract is up in the summer. Maybe we have sent him back, if we were able to.


It means we will probably need to bring another goalkeeper in as cover for Alnwick. We don’t want a situation where Alnwick is injured/suspended and Turner has to play a few games.

Not sure that Ward would come in just to be an understudy. He’s not playing now so would seem crazy for him to go somewhere else he’s not playing.

If it’s true Sheffield United want him as their first choice, he’ll be more likely to go there.

Alnwick is a decent keeper but to say he is better than Ward is wrong.

Alnwick is decent enough but he is not top-end championship. Ward needs to get out of Leicester but who knows how good he is. He has had a strange career, a well paid number two at big clubs, but not many starts for a 30 year old.

Ward is better than Alnwick for sure.

Not a bad choice for now and then we can look at a keeper that fits Bulut’s style better in the summer.