League One rivals Wigan Athletic and Reading are battling to secure the services of Accrington Stanley defender Benn Ward.
It emerged last night that the Latics had agreed a deal with Stanley in the region of half a million pounds for Ward.
But, only an hour later, it appeared that Reading were the club signing the centre-half, according to Pete O’Rourke.
Now, the latest reports state that both clubs have had offers accepted, and it is down to the player to decide his future. While so much remains up in the air, what does appear clear is that he won’t remain at the Wham Stadium beyond this month.
Wigan have been pushing hard in this window to sign the former Burnley defender, with no fewer than four previous bids rejected. And while it does look like the fifth time lucky in meeting Stanley’s asking price, Reading have added another twist with their offer.
Ward has been with Accy for just over 12 months, signing an 18-month deal with the League Two outfit. After a loan spell at Swindon Town the season prior, playing just five times, he excelled on his return to the fourth tier, making 21 consecutive starts last term.
That good form has continued, making the 22-year-old a highly sought-after man in the January transfer window. Despite missing the first four matches of the season, Ward has been a key part of Stanley’s backline this term, possessing some of the best defensive statistics in the division.
And his worth to Accrington has only increased in recent weeks, keeping four clean sheets in the past two months. As a result, they have shrugged off any fears of relegation by moving 14 points clear of the bottom two.
But John Doolan was unable to call upon the centre-half at the weekend in their goalless draw against Walsall, citing the current situation around his future.
Which Side Would Benefit From Ward The Most?
Wigan are four League One matches without victory, a run which means they continue to look over their shoulder in the third tier. While an FA Cup tie at Arsenal next month will provide a welcome break from league action, the Latics are just two points clear of the relegation places.
Despite this, Ryan Lowe’s side showed great resilience at the weekend to salvage a point at Doncaster Rovers. Wigan were three goals down in South Yorkshire, and deservedly so, with Donny dominant in the opening hour.
Nevertheless, the Latics have one of the better defensive records in the third tier this term, with just seven teams conceding fewer times.
Reading’s stats in that metric aren’t as solid, despite being six places and five points better off than their league rivals. The Royals are just two wins adrift of the Play-Off places, and need a commanding presence at the heart of their defence to push them towards a return to the Championship.
New signings Haydon Roberts and Ryan Nyambe have slotted in well, with the former bagging on his debut against Barnsley on Saturday. Nyambe was a bright spark off the bench against the Tykes.
Ultimately, the decision is down to Ward as to which club he wants to join. Both teams would hugely benefit from the impetus he would provide in the second half of the campaign.