Director of Football Mario Husillos will likely be in the market for an addition who can add depth between the sticks this summer, as 2013 arrival Adrian is set to leave a gaping hole in the squad once his contract expires next month.
But with Lukasz Fabianski our clear and undisputed number one, we would likely only be searching for someone who will be willing to act as the 34-year-old’s deputy, and push the 2018/19 Hammer of the Year to maintain the high standards he has set for himself.
Finding someone willing to do that should prove tricky, and one option that was thought to have been explored in Stratford was Chelsea’s veteran back-up Willy Caballero, but he has now put pen to paper on a contract extension at Stamford Bridge.
As such, Football.London have done the club’s scouting department a favour and compiled a shortlist of goalkeepers we could look to sign in the coming months. However, most of their options will not be all that easy in the grand scale of things.
The first name they suggest is Burnley’s Nick Pope, who shone for the Clarets in the absence of England international Tom Heaton, but the Turf Moor outfit’s captain’s return and arrival of Joe Hart dropped the 27-year-old down Sean Dyche’s pecking order.
Pope would definitely be a great option to come in and support Fabianski, and potentially one day replace him, but Husillos would likely face a rival bid from AFC Bournemouth.
The Daily Mail understand the Cherries are set to offer £15million for Pope, as they feel he is a slightly cheaper option than Stoke City’s Jack Butland. Eddie Howe’s side had explored the potential of offering the Potters Asmir Begovic as part of the deal, but appear to prefer a move for Pope.
The next name on Football.London’s shortlist, meanwhile, is Cardiff City’s shot-stopper Neil Etheridge.
Football Insider had tipped the Bluebirds ace to be a target of ours, as well. But they claimed the South Wales side would demand a fee in the region of £10million, after the 29-year-old kept ten clean sheets in his 38 Premier League games on route to relegation.
Another suggested target who would come with some opposition is Fulham’s Marcus Bettinelli. The £3.6million-rated 27-year-old was a big factor in the Cottager’s promotion to the top-flight a year ago, but was only able to make seven Premier League outings under his various managers.
Relegation with Sergio Rico between the sticks, however, could see Bettinelli given another crack at Craven Cottage if his 25-year-old Spanish rival departs South West London.
Jonas Lossl, another goalkeeper who faced the drop in the recently concluded campaign, is also suggested as a potential number two for Fabianski. He, however, has just signed for Everton on a three-year deal.
Thus, from the five-man shortlist Football.London have compiled, the only option we would have free reign to sign appears to be Tottenham Hotspur’s Michel Vorm.
Spurs are seemingly about to part ways with the veteran goalkeeper once his contract in North London expires next month, like we are with Adrian. He would also come with bags of Premier League experience, and has been used to the number two tag.
