Port Vale Braced for Ben Waine Transfer Battle After FA Cup Heroics

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.