Derby County set for blow involving overseas transfer target as Leicester City deal discussed | OneFootball

The ex-Premier League goalkeeper was reported to be on his way to Pride Park.

Mathew Ryan's reported move to Derby County is looking more and more unlikely, as talks continue with Leicester City over a prospective move for Daniel Iversen.

John Percy of The Telegraph has reported that Ryan's proposed move to the Midlands is looking less likely to happen, and that they are looking to strike a deal with last season's second tier champions - Leicester - for their Danish back-up stopper instead.

Derby released their golden glove-winning keeper, Joe Wildsmith, who kept 20 clean sheets in 40 League One appearances last time out, after the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

He has gone on to join new Championship rivals West Bromwich Albion, and County are still searching for their next number one.

As things stand, Josh Vickers is the club's only recognised first team option that Paul Warne has between the sticks - the ex-Rotherham United man was the back-up option to Wildsmith last season.

Derby County in Mathew Ryan setback with Daniel Iversen targeted

Warne was reported to be targeting the out-of-contract AZ Alkmaar shot-stopper Ryan. The Rams have already signed one player from the Dutch side - Kenzo Goudmijn - for a reported fee of £600,000, as per Ian Baker.

Netherlands-based outlet Voetbal Primeur had reported that, after multiple contract offers from Alkmaar had been rejected by the Australian international, Ryan was set to join Goudmijn in heading to Pride Park for the club's first Championship campaign since they were relegated to the third tier three seasons ago.

The Australian was the fourth-placed Eredivisie side's number one option in net last season, keeping the second most clean sheets in the 23/24 campaign, but it does not look like he will be arriving at County - that is not to worry though as Paul Warne has other targets aside from the 93-cap international.

As first reported a number of weeks ago by Alan Nixon via Patreon, Iversen is a loan transfer target for Derby this summer, and he is no stranger to Warne, having managed him in a temporary stint at Rotherham previously.

The Dane spent the second half of last season on loan at Stoke City, featuring 18 games for the Potters and keeping seven clean sheets.

When Derby were last in the Championship, the 26-year-old was with Preston North End, and that loan spell saw him start every game that the Lilywhites played that season, letting in no goals on 13 occasions.

Mathew Ryan setback won't be such a Derby County blow if Daniel Iversen is signed

One thing that can really help teams who are in the lower half of any table is to have a goalkeeper that is a very good shot-stopper.

A team like Derby, who are more likely than not to be in that position, with the way that they play, doesn't need their man between the sticks to be pinging balls all over the park and starting attacks; making saves when not expected to is much more important than distribution to Warne.

Ryan would have been perfect for this role. His experience of playing in the Premier League for Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion, as well as in all three UEFA club competitions, would have been a massive help to County.

Iversen certainly has a good amount of game-time as a Championship keeper, but the Aussie's wealth of knowledge and knowhow would have been a huge asset to Paul Warne.

Derby are set to strengthen in midfield as they are edging closer to an agreement with Cardiff City for former loanee midfielder Ebou Adams, as per Percy, so that's some positive news for Rams fans, but missing out on a former Champions League and Premier League goalkeeper must sting - even if they are in talks for a decent alternative.