Stolarczyk is being tipped to reach top

THE loss of Leicester City legend Kasper Schmeichel will be eased by an “outstanding” talent the club have coming through their ranks, writes Jordan Blackwell.

Schmeichel has said goodbye to City after 11 years, moving to Nice yesterday, and manager Brendan Rodgers has backed Danny Ward and Daniel Iversen to battle for the number one shirt.

But soon they may face a challenge from Jakub Stolarczyk, who Rodgers has tipped to reach the very top.

The 21-year-old Pole, above, who has made three appearances for City this pre-season, has a big future ahead of him, says Rodgers, but needs game time to help him achieve his potential.

A loan has therefore been lined up which will go through once City have brought in a new third-choice goalkeeper to support Ward and Iversen.

League One side Fleetwood are among those who have been linked.

A loan spell will build on an impressive few months with Dunfermline in the Scottish second tier last term, where Stolarczyk earned rave reviews from staff and supporters, not only for his shotstopping but for his commitment to the cause as the club battled relegation.

Rodgers said: “We’ve got a really, really, really big talent in Jakub, who I think is going to be an outstanding keeper at the very highest level but he needs to get out on loan.

“We’ve got a loan club lined up for him to go and work in. But while the situation is a little unresolved, we can’t let him go out yet.

“I think from a goalkeeping perspective, we know where we’re going and we’ll hopefully this week sort that out.”

With Stolarczyk set for a loan, City have the likes of Brad Young, who they signed from Hartlepool last summer, and Chituru Odunze who will represent the club’s development squad, with their season kicking off at home to Tottenham next Monday.