Ipswich Town manager Paul Jewell says he is still very much on the lookout for another goalkeeper, either on loan or on a free transfer.
Current number one David Stockdale has impressed since joining on loan from Fulham, but with a 24-hour recall clause in his deal, the Blues are only ever a day away from potentially losing him. Following the release of Brian Murphy over the summer, Town now have just one other senior goalkeeper in Arran Lee-Barrett, whilst academy keeper Cody Cropper has yet to make an appearance for the senior team.
‘We have already formed a list of potential targets which we are adding to and taking away,’ Jewell told the East Anglian press. ‘We have two other lists – one for possible replacements if David Stockdale has to go back and one for free transfers.’
Former Blue Richard Wright has been in training and reserve action with the club this summer, with many fans calling for him to be offered a short-term deal. However, Jewell says he is looking for someone younger as a long term option, though with any new keeper likely to play second fiddle to Stockdale for the foreseeable future, the Town boss admits that it is difficult to attract anyone suitable.
‘Playing games is such an important part of their development,’ he said. ‘It is a very delicate one. We are travelling round the country and watching them in games to ensure we get the right one.’
The identities of Jewell’s targets is unknown at this stage, but the Blues were understood to have taken 21-year-old West Ham United keeper Marek Stech on trial. However, the Czech U21 international looks set to move elsewhere with another club potentially offering him a better chance of first team action.
Meanwhile Ipswich could look to utilise the loan window to give some of their own fringe players an opportunity for first team football elsewhere. One who looks almost certain to move on is Tamas Priskin, who told the local press this week that he wants to leave the club having not played a single match so far this season.
‘I’m sure this is my last season here, I don’t want to stay,’ said the Hungarian international. ‘Fortunately my contract will expire in 2012 so I can sign to anywhere next summer.
‘It would be great to go on loan to a team where I can play regularly, this would be the most important thing for me at the moment. Then I’ll see in January, I’ll go to another club if I get the possibility.’
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