When Huddersfield Town gained promotion to the Premier League in May, one of their transfer targets was Danny Ward.
Ward, who was on loan from Liverpool, was also eager to sign up. He had been instrumental in getting the Terriers into the top flight. However, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp refused to sell the player to the Yorkshire club
The Terriers needed to hunt for a new keeper, and David Wagner cast his eye to Europe. The German head coach turned to his former side Mainz 05, where the Bundesliga club had signed Jonas Lössl the season before.
Focus on: Jonas Lössl
Mainz 05 had a difficult 2015/2016 season with Lössl making 27 appearances and keeping five clean sheets. The club finished 15th – very similar to the Terriers performances up until earning promotion
As the Terriers made their first appearance in the top flight of English football in 45 years, Lössl was between the sticks for Town as they travelled to Crystal Palace. For the first 55 minutes, the big Dane had nothing to do but watch.
Soon after, he was called into action for the first time. He made two important stops in quick succession as the Terriers made an impressive start to life in the Premier League. From that first match on, the intent from the keeper was obvious. Although there have been losses to West Ham United, Swansea City & Bournemouth away from home, it has been at home where the most impressive performances have been.
The John Smith Stadium is home to the Terriers, and with only one loss to date on their own turf, to Spurs, the new boys are holding their own. Most of this can lay in the arms of Lössl with his impressive record for the club he is on loan to.
Huddersfield have the option to sign the Danish keeper permanently at the end of the current season. So far it looks like they would be fools not to put pen to paper for the keeper at the end of the season.
Lössl has shown so far that he is happy to settle in and follow the work ethic that got the Terriers into the top flight, which is exactly what Wagner looks for in the team. Despite the occasional loss, the Terriers have made a good start to life in the top flight.
Sitting tenth in the league at the moment, with many pundits having predicted that the Terriers would be lower and in the relegation zone by now, if not from the start, Huddersfield look to be on their way to remaining in the top flight.
Lössl certainly is on course for a full signing with the Yorkshire club with the record he has so far in the top flight. When the January window comes round, a goalkeeper will not be on the list for the Terriers.
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