Ipswich Town: Six goalkeepers the Blues could sign this summer

It looks like the Blues will need to sign at least one shot-stopper before the start of the season. Alex Jones has picked out six options...

Carl Rushworth has been linked with a move to Portman Road this summer (Image: PA)

Carl Rushworth – Brighton & Hove Albion

Starting off with a name that’s already been linked with a move to Town, Carl Rushworth is yet to make a senior appearance for Brighton & Hove Albion, having spent the last three seasons out on loan at different levels in the EFL.

He impressed during stints at League Two Walsall and League One outfit Lincoln City, but it was his spell at Championship side Swansea City that really saw him gain recognition, keeping 10 clean sheets in 46 games.

Although that number isn’t huge, it’s important to remember that he was playing in an attack-minded team that didn’t boast the best defensive record. He finished the campaign with 4.0 goals prevented – the fourth highest in the division. He’s also comfortable playing out from the back, which is something that Kieran McKenna will probably want to maintain in the top flight next season.

At 22, there’s still plenty of time for him to grow and develop, and with his pathway as a first-choice shot-stopper at the Amex Stadium looking much trickier behind Bart Verbruggen, this could be the right time for him to move.

Alex Palmer was named in the Championship Team of the Season for 2023/24 (Image: PA)

Alex Palmer – West Brom

Staying in the Championship, Alex Palmer was arguably the standout goalkeeper across 46 games. Yes, he was fortunate to play behind a rock-solid and experienced defensive line, but 18 clean sheets is no mean feat.

On top of that, he saved three of seven penalties that he faced and boasted a save percentage of 68.9%. You’d back him to thrive in a harder environment, even if he’d face more shots. He’s made some incredible saves during his time at the Hawthorns, and he might see this as his chance to make the step up.

He was linked with a move to Luton Town – the club he joined on loan in 2021/22 – last summer, but ultimately ended up staying at the Hawthorns. He was named in the Championship Team of the Season, gaining recognition for a strong campaign.

Testing the Baggies’ resolve would be hard. After all, they’ve just been taken over by Shilen Patel, who’ll be keen to back manager Carlos Corberan and invest in the squad in the coming weeks. As such, the 27-year-old goalkeeper might have a high price tag.

Jack Butland could be allowed to leave Rangers this summer (Image: PA)

Jack Butland – Rangers

The oldest and most experienced name on this list, Jack Butland has been Rangers’ first-choice goalkeeper for a while. He’s 31 and has been playing at senior level for 14 years, having stood out during a lengthy spell at Stoke City that came to an end in 2020.

His time at Crystal Palace and Manchester United has been difficult, but he’s shown his best at Ibrox, helping them win the Scottish League Cup in 2023/24 while also helping the Gers progress in the Europa League.

He has, however, been linked with a move away from Glasgow in the last couple of months, and if Ipswich want an experienced option in the net, he could be the man to go for. His recent performances for Philippe Clement’s side have seen him mentioned in discussions for England’s Euro 2024 squad, although he just missed out in the end.

Rangers would likely try to push for a big fee, and there might need to be convincing to try and get Butland to make the move to Suffolk, but there’s a lot to like about him and he’s a proven entity at this level.

Matej Kovar worked with Kieran McKenna at Manchester United (Image: PA)

Matej Kovar – Bayer Leverkusen

Matej Kovar’s career has taken him all over the place. The 24-year-old joined Manchester United from FC Slovacko in 2020, playing under Kieran McKenna in their academy. He had loan spells at Swindon Town, Burton Albion and Sparta Prague before making a permanent switch to Bayer Leverkusen last summer for a reported fee of £7.7 million including add-ons.

He's been given an interesting role under Xabi Alonso, starting just one Bundesliga game last season – a goalless draw against Borussia Monchengladbach. However, he started every single Europa League game ahead of Lukas Hradecky, with Die Werkself reaching the final of the competition before losing 3-0 to Atalanta.

As a result, Kovar has the top-level experience required, and he’s played at an incredibly successful club. There has to come a point where he wants to play week in, week out, and doing so under his former manager could be really tempting.

His age and his pedigree both appeal, and he’s currently away with the Czech Republic at Euro 2024, although he’s yet to play at the tournament. He’d be comfortable in a high-pressure environment, which is what Ipswich need.

Caoimhin Kelleher has struggled for game time at Liverpool (Image: PA)

Caoimhin Kelleher – Liverpool

Another player who may move this summer in search of regular football, Caoimhin Kelleher has been unfortunate at Liverpool. An impressive young goalkeeper, he’s had to remain patient behind Allison, who’s one of the best players in Europe.

Joining the Reds in 2015, Kelleher’s most consistent run in the starting lineup came last season, playing 10 Premier League games during Allison’s spell on the sidelines. He’s also played a starring role in their Carabao Cup wins in 2022 and 2024, scoring the winning penalty in the former.

With fellow goalkeeper Adrian expected to leave Anfield this summer, there’s less competition to start, but that might not be enough of an incentive for the Republic of Ireland international to stay. He’s 25 now and needs to be a regular, because his potential is significant.

With that in mind, Liverpool would surely ask for a significant fee, especially given that they’ll need to go out and sign a replacement. There’ll also be plenty of competition to acquire his signature if he is on the market, but he’d be a regular if he made the move to Portman Road. New boss Arne Slot will probably want to take a look at him before a decision is made on his future.

Nick Olij narrowly missed out on a place in the Netherlands Euro 2024 squad (Image: PA)

Nick Olij – Sparta Rotterdam

A left-field option from abroad, Nick Olij struggled to break through at AZ Alkmaar in the early stages of his career, dropping down to the Dutch second tier to join NAC Breda. He was exceptional in three seasons there, although his side were unable to make it up to the Eredivisie. As a result, he joined Sparta Rotterdam in 2022.

He proved to everyone that he was more than capable of playing at the level, winning the league’s Player of the Month award for January 2023. Less than a year later, he was called up by the Netherlands senior national team for the first time in his career, although he was ultimately left as an unused substitute in games against France and Greece.

Manager Ronald Koeman considered him for his Euro 2024 squad, but his depth in the goalkeeper department saw Olij left out. This might be the best time for the 28-year-old to leave the Netherlands for the first time in his career, knowing that a string of consistent performances on a bigger stage could see him pushed up pecking order in the national team.

Sparta Rotterdam aren’t in the strongest position to keep him if a top team comes calling, having missed out on a place in the Europa Conference League via the play-offs. He revealed that he turned down FC Copenhagen in January, but an offer from the Premier League might be harder for him to reject.