Kasper Schmeichel may have recovered from a tough start to life after Leicester City but his future remains a hot topic in France, with his career at Nice in doubt.
Schmeichel struggled for form when he first left City for the Riviera club last summer and he shared goalkeeper duties with Marcin Bulka, who had arrived from PSG after a successful loan spell. It was only when Bulka got injured that Schmeichel really nailed down the number one shirt, and his form improved considerably.
But as Schmeichel prepares for the second season of his three-year deal, reports from France suggest Nice are weighing up their options. Both Schmeichel and Bulka want to be number one this coming campaign, and so one will leave the club, L’Equipe report.
Bulka, who is only 23 and who has been tipped for the top, is reportedly the preferred option behind the scenes at Nice. However, he will only be number one if Schmeichel leaves, and that would require a club to come in for the Dane and match his Nice wage. No interest has yet emerged, and if no clubs come forward, Bulka will leave, likely on loan.
There need to be further assessments by new manager Francesco Farioli, who at 34 is two-and-a-half years younger than Schmeichel, over whether Bulka is at his best after recovering from a dislocated shoulder. If he is deemed to be, that will leave Nice with a decision to make, one that could force Schmeichel towards the exit.
City were on the hunt for a replacement for Schmeichel when he left the King Power Stadium last summer, but their financial situation saw them stick with Danny Ward, who was eventually replaced by Daniel Iversen. A new arrival in goal is expected this summer, with Manchester City’s Zack Steffen a target.
Mike Stowell, City’s long-serving goalkeeping coach who departed the club this summer to make way for Enzo Maresca’s backroom team, has made it clear that he is on the hunt for a new job. With his 18 years at City, a spell that included six stints as caretaker boss, following on from a 20-year playing career, being out of work is a rarity for Stowell.
He told the Wolves Heroes blog: “I have never been one to network, so this is all new territory for me. I have always just got my head down and worked. In fact I have had 38 years of virtually unbroken employment in professional football.
“With clubs starting pre-season training and with some high-profile transfers in the news, my own situation has probably gone under the radar and I would just like people to know I have definitely not retired. I am not ready to step away, nor am I able to, and am looking to crack on in football quickly. I’m still hungry, looking for the next challenge, and have an open mind as to where it might be.
“Apart from filling in for a few days with the Denmark national team through Kasper Schmeichel, I have always worked in England but wouldn’t mind going abroad for a couple of years if the chance came up in somewhere like America or Saudi Arabia.
After the eight senior departures were confirmed by City last month, 11 youngsters were also released, including four scholars. One of those, Freddie Cook, has quickly bounced back into the game though, signing a deal with Cardiff’s academy.
The defender played in 16 of City Under-18s’ 22 league matches last term, but could not secure a deal with the club. He has now signed professional terms with City’s Championship rivals Cardiff and will link up with their Under-21s.
He said: “I feel great about it. It’s my first time signing a pro contract, and I feel like it’s the best club for me to come to. I’m absolutely buzzing to be here. The blueprints and the way everyone works with each other really appealed to me, and all of the staff were really welcoming.”
Leave a Reply