Wycombe set to rival Celtic in transfer race for Motherwell star | OneFootball

Wycombe Wanderers and Celtic have both registered interest in Motherwell goalkeeper Calum Ward

Wycombe Wanderers have failed in their quest to secure a League One play-off spot, and already have one eye on the summer transfer window.

The Chairboys sit 11 points adrift of sixth-place Stevenage with just two games remaining, and are winless in their last four third-tier fixtures.

Michael Duff's men haven't returned to the Championship since suffering relegation from the second tier in 2021, and they will have to wait at least another year to achieve that feat.

Wycombe know that they must recruit well this summer to bolster their chances of finishing in the play-offs next term, having fallen well short of that target this time around.

Wycombe Wanderers join Celtic in race for Motherwell goalkeeper

Wycombe are vying to end a somewhat disappointing campaign on a positive note by earning victories over freshly crowned League One champions Lincoln City and already relegated Rotherham United in their last two games.

The fact that neither the Imps nor the Millers have permutations heading into their clashes with Duff's men favours the Chairboys, who can still finish as high as ninth.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Will Norris has maintained 12 clean sheets in 33 League One appearances for Wycombe this term, but Duff is keen on bolstering his options between the sticks ahead of next term.

According to Sky Sports' Christopher Reidy via X, Celtic, the Chairboys, and Polish outfit Jagiellonia Bialystok are among the clubs monitoring Motherwell shotstopper Calum Ward ahead of next season.

Ward is under contract at Fir Park until 2027, having penned a new deal in December.

Motherwell have been one of the Scottish Premiership's surprise packages this term, and deservedly sit fourth with just five games remaining.

The 25-year-old goalkeeper has played a vital role in those efforts, maintaining 17 clean sheets in 33 top-flight appearances, more than any other shotstopper in his league.

According to FotMob, Ward has a save percentage of 75.8 in the Scottish Premiership, and his distribution is also impressive, with a pass success rate of 83.3 percent.

Celtic should have the upper hand over Wycombe Wanderers in Calum Ward race

Ward has proven his class in the top flight of Scottish football this term, suggesting that he would be a strong asset in League One for Wycombe next term.

Meanwhile, Celtic have fallen below their usual standards this season, and sit below both Hearts and Rangers in the title race with five games left to play.

Even if Martin O'Neill's side successfully beat both Derek McInnes' men and their fierce Glasgow rivals to Scottish Premiership glory, it is clear that they must strengthen their squad this summer.

Acquiring a new goalkeeper is a priority for Celtic, as former Leicester City ace Kasper Schmeichel is out of contract this summer.

The Glasgow giants surely have the upper hand over Wycombe and Jagiellonia Bialystok in the race for Ward, as they would hand him the opportunity to remain in Scotland.

Both the Polish outfit and the Bhoys could offer Ward the opportunity to play in the Champions League next season, which is obviously a luxury the Chairboys don't have.