"Ridiculous" - Pundit tears into latest twist in Derby County, Sheffield United and Leicester City saga | OneFootball

EFL Pundit Carlton Palmer has reacted to the latest development involving Derby County, Sheffield United and Leicester City's Daniel Iversen

EFL Pundit Carlton Palmer has provided an exclusive verdict on the transfer demands of Leicester City and Daniel Iversen, which have reportedly resulted in fresh Championship duo Derby County and Sheffield United both refusing to broker a deal with the Foxes.

According to a recent Patreon report from The Sun's transfer guru Alan Nixon, Leicester have priced the two sides out of a move after setting a £1.5m asking price for the services of Iversen, who has just a year left to run on his current deal at the King Power Stadium and is said to have revealed his own weekly wage demands of £25,000.

Derby and the Blades are now reportedly "exploring other targets" as they both prepare for their own respective Championship campaigns. Paul Warne's side were promoted from League One at the second time of asking in 2023/24 by finishing in second place, whereas United will have ambitions of staking an immediate return to the Premier League after being relegated with just 16 points to their name.

They've both continually been in the hunt for fresh options between the sticks, too. Having lost Joe Wildsmith to West Bromwich Albion, Derby are now believed to be closing in on the acquisition of highly-rated Swede Jacob Widell Zetterstrom from Djurdgarden. United, meanwhile, are said to have a strong interest in Plymouth Argyle's Michael Cooper, as per The Star. The newly-relegated outfit saw last season's first-choice 'keeper Wes Foderingham leave Bramall Lane upon the expiration of his contract and that position now appears a real priority after bringing in the likes of Kieffer Moore, Callum O'Hare and Harrison Burrows.

Daniel Iversen situation is "ridiculous"

The 27-year-old represents a proven pair of hands at Championship level, having previously impressed over two seasons for Preston North End before spending time on loan with Stoke City from Leicester during the second half of last season. Nonetheless, pundit and former England international Palmer believes that both Derby and Sheffield United are justified in their separate decisions to walk away from negotiations in light of demands from Leicester and the player in question.

"Leicester City are wanting to move on their goalkeeper Daniel Iversen, but they're holding out for a ridiculous £1.5m (fee) for a player who is entering the final year of his contract and the player wants £25,000 per week," Palmer exclusively explained to Football League World.

"Both Derby County and Sheffield United are believed to have backed out of the deal. Will the clubs live to regret it? I don't think so, not at paying a £1.5m fee and £25,000 per week (salary). Yes, you'd get around the £25,000 without having to pay the substantial fee but I think Leicester will be left holding the baby on this one, he'll run down his contract and go on a free.

"He's a proven Championship goalkeeper, Derby have just got promotion so they've been very active in the market in bringing players in but Paul Warne is an astute manager and his recruits have to seem value for money. Although he's a very very good goalkeeper, it's way in excess.

"Sheffield United, we know they're in the hunt for a goalkeeper, but again the fee and the wages are excessive and both clubs won't regret it because it doesn't make financial sense."

Even though Iversen is a capable and accomplished second-tier shot-stopper, Leicester's valuation is way too high for a player who will otherwise be a free agent in less than twelve months' time. It's not hard to imagine a whole host of Championship clubs queuing up for Iversen's signature without a fee next summer and Leicester would benefit from significantly lowering their asking price in order to collect what they can for him right now.

As Palmer explains, Iversen's reported wage demands are hardly cheap but could be given latitude if they come without a transfer fee but when you factor in all the financial elements of a potential deal, it's really not worth brokering from the perspectives of Derby and United.

Zetterstrom may be an unknown quantity on English shores although he's younger and is certainly held in high regard, while Plymouth's Cooper would be an outstanding signing for Chris Wilder if he can pull it off and is surely a much better alternative to Iversen, too.