Derby County get Daniel Iversen’s response amid Leicester City transfer complications

After releasing Joe Wildsmith at the end of last season, one of Derby County’s main priorities in this summer’s transfer window is signing a new goalkeeper.

Links with former Brighton goalkeeper Mathew Ryan have emerged in the past month, but the Rams are also keen on Leicester City stopper Daniel Iversen.

The Danish stopper is tipped to leave the Foxes this summer and a reunion with Paul Warne at Derby makes a lot of sense given he has worked with him before. Iversen spent the second half of last season on loan and here Derbyshire Live speak to Stoke Sentinel’s Pete Smith to find out about the man who could take the gloves next season.

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How did Iversen perform for Stoke last season?

He had been out of action for seven or eight months when he joined Stoke in January and was effectively thrown in at the end. Stoke were gasping for air in late January and February and the pressure was getting pretty intense. By early March I think we were starting to see the best of him and it would be foolish to underestimate the part he played in a strong finish to ensure Stoke stayed up.

What are his strengths and weaknesses?

I’ve seen a stat doing the rounds about Iversen’s post-shot xG at Stoke that gives the impression that he’s not a good shot stopper. I’m not saying to ignore this metric, but I would definitely say that it doesn’t paint the right picture.

He made some vital game-changing interventions, for example at 0-0 in a crucial home game against Middlesbrough, which Stoke won 2-0. He ran to take the initiative when Riley McGree suddenly crossed the goal.

There were some important saves but his positioning and the distance he organized between himself and the defense made a huge difference. He took command in the penalty area.

What did Steven Schumacher make of his performances?

He was a fan and it was clear after the final game that he would like to work again with the four loan players who played that day; Iversen, Ki-Jana Hoever, Luke Cundle and Luke McNally. But by that time Stoke were well in favor of bringing in Paul Warne’s old goalkeeper Viktor Johansson, who is also rated as one of the best in the Championship.

How did the fans think of him during his time at Stoke?

The consensus was that he probably took a little time to find his feet, but then looked like a solid presence. It was no coincidence that the defense looked more confident when Iversen reached his peak, finishing with three consecutive shutouts.

What was his best performance?

The aforementioned Middlesbrough game stands out, but I might go for Hull, the first game back after the final international break of the season. That was the kind of overall performance he produced pretty consistently throughout the run.

Would Stoke have signed him if the money was right?

If it was a straightforward deal with Leicester, then keeping a home-watching goalkeeper on loan would have made sense. But it wasn’t going to be easy, especially after Leicester’s promotion, the wages they paid the players and the taxes they demanded.

There were no complaints about the choice of Johansson instead, and even if Iversen had been available on loan, it was a big move for Stoke to bring in their number one this summer. They have relied too long on the loan market and have been stung by withdrawals, form and players who need time to shake off the rust.

Would he be a good signing for Derby?

Undoubtedly. He is a goalkeeper you can rely on in the championship and a strong character. He’ll get a decent reception if he returns to Stoke as an opponent, even if he’s wearing a Derby shirt.

Would you sign Iversen for Derby? Have your say HERE.