Exclusive: Portsmouth agree to sign Exeter City ace on loan-to-buy
Portsmouth are set to sign Exeter City goalkeeper Lewis Ward on a loan-to-buy deal, Football Insider can exclusively reveal.
The 23-year-old is out of contract in six months and Pompey have decided to take advantage.
A recruitment source has told Football Insider that Portsmouth have agreed a loan deal with a view to it becoming permanent in the summer.
Ward has made 10 appearances for Exeter this season, keeping clean sheets against Cambridge and Walsall, but has not featured since 24 October – a 3-1 win over Scunthorpe.
He moved to St James Park in July 2019 on a free transfer following his release from Championship high-flyers Reading.
A product of the Royals’ academy, Ward has enjoyed loan spells at Aldershot, Forest Green Rovers, Northampton and Icelandic side Fylkir Reykjavik since turning pro.
The English shot-stopper’s best form came at Exeter City last season where he kept six clean sheets in 23 appearances across all competitions.
However, he has lost his place in the side to Jonny Maxted and now looks unlikely to play for the club again.
Portsmouth boss Kenny Jackett is in the market for a new goalkeeper with the future of current number one Craig MacGillivray far from certain.
The 28-year-old, like Ward, is out of contract in the summer and could leave on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Jackett’s side are currently fifth in League One, just four points off the automatic promotion spots.
In other news, Preston have opened talks to sign an Everton starlet amid competition from fellow Championship club Blackburn Rovers.