Football
Port Vale Braced for Ben Waine Transfer Battle After FA Cup Heroics
published: 10-03-2026
Last updated: 10-03-2026
Port Vale v Sunderland - Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round by Gareth Copley | Getty Images
Port Vale are bracing themselves to lose FA Cup hero Ben Waine at the end of the season, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
Hot shot Waine has been catapulted into the spotlight after his headed first half goal earned League One's bottom club a famous fifth round 1-0 win over Premier League outfit Sunderland.
Their reward is a trip to Stamford Bridge to lock horns with Chelsea with a number of Waine's admirers keeping a close eye on how he gets on against the top flight big boys.
The New Zealand international also netted an extra time winner as Jon Brady's giantkillers knocked out Championship Bristol City in the previous round six days earlier.
The 24-year-old's third goal in as many games took his season's tally to eight and to the attention of EFL clubs looking for a new striker.
Newcastle fan Waine, who played for the Kiwis at the Paris 2024 Olympics, only moved to Vale Park last summer as a free agent.
He had previously plied his trade at Plymouth, where he also scored eight times, as well as Mansfield.
He is contracted to the Potteries outfit until the end of 2027.
But with Vale 11 points from safety-albeit with games in hand due to their cup exploits-he is on course to be playing in the fourth-tier next term.
However, as Sunderland and Bristol City will attest, Waine is capable of playing at a higher level.
He outshone Robins' pair Sinclair Armstrong and Middlesbrough loanee, Delano Burgzorg and the Ashton Gate club could see Waine as a more than capable back-up for Scott Twine and Emil Riis.
On The Radar
Huddersfield are another club looking for a new marksman next season regardless of if they clinch promotion to the Championship.
Patience is running out with Dion Charles. The Northern Ireland has scored only two league goals since his move from Bolton 15 months ago and hasn’t hit the target since last November.
Blackpool are also interested as they could lose top scorer Ashley Fletcher, who has been linked with a move to Preston, even if they avoid the drop to League Two.
The 19-goal sharpshooter has still to sign a new contract and Waine has shown his credentials.
Shane is a seasoned sports journalist and one of the most recognisable voices in the snooker pressroom. From Ronnie O’Sullivan to Zhao Xintong, he has sat down with the sport’s biggest names and broken hundreds of front-page national stories.
Alongside his work for SportsBoom, Shane regularly freelances for national outlets including the Daily Mirror, Daily Express, and Daily Star.
While cricket is Shane’s true passion, particularly Test cricket, he keeps it largely separate from his professional work. But don’t expect him to be sold on The Hundred as the future of the game.