Leicester open talks with Liverpool over £12m Ward transfer

Liverpool are in talks with Leicester over the £12million ($15.5m) transfer of goalkeeper Danny Ward.

The Welshman is expected to miss the Reds’ friendly with Blackburn Rovers on Thursday night as he closes in on a move away from Anfield.

Liverpool are themselves set to finalise the £67m ($87m) signing of Alisson Becker, with the Roma ‘keeper undergoing a medical on Merseyside ahead of a world-record switch.

Ward had been set to get a chance to impress Jurgen Klopp this summer after a season spent as third-choice behind Loris Karius and Simon Mignolet. Anfield sources had even indicated, as recently as last week, that the 25-year-old could start the campaign as No.1.

However, the Reds have made significant moves since then, landing their top transfer target in Alisson. With Karius and Mignolet still on the books, Klopp is willing to allow Ward to leave and get the first-team football he believes he deserves.

Ward has made three senior appearances for Liverpool, but enjoyed successful loan spells with Aberdeen and Huddersfield Town. Both Burnley and Bournemouth had made enquiries about the former Wrexham man this summer, but it appears Leicester have won the race.

The Foxes themselves could soon be losing their No.1 goalkeeper, with Kasper Schmeichel attracting interest from both Chelsea, who look likely to sell Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid, and Roma, who are in the market for a ‘keeper following Alisson’s exit.

Liverpool expect teenage star Ben Woodburn to travel with them for their three-game tour of the USA this weekend, despite loan interest from Sheffield United and Norwich. The Reds have also received numerous enquiries from Championship clubs over Ryan Kent, Sheyi Ojo and Pedro Chirivella, all of whom have featured so far during pre-season.

Gini Wijnaldum and Danny Ings will miss the game at Blackburn due to minor injuries.