Manchester United’s Tomasz Kuszczak is the man Paul Jewell is hoping to bring in as Town’s new number one for next season. The 30-year-old Pole is out of contract in the summer and is set to leave Old Trafford.

The Blues are desperately in need of a regular first choice keeper with loanees David Stockdale and Alex McCarthy both having been recalled early by Fulham and Reading respectively this season. Arran Lee-Barrett has another year on his current deal but is only viewed as a back-up, while Richard Wright would appear likely to move on when his contract is up at the end of June.

Town haven’t had an established number one since Wright came in for his second spell in 2008/09, a situation Jewell has said he intends to resolve this summer.

Born in Krosno Odrzańskie, Kuszczak played youth football with Śląsk Wrocław and German side Uerdingen before joining Hertha Berlin in 2000 and playing for their reserves side in the lower leagues but failing to make an appearance for their senior team.

In 2004 Gary Megson took him to West Brom where he attracted the attention of Sir Alex Ferguson, who brought him to Old Trafford in 2006 for a fee of £2.125 million, a deal which also saw young keeper Luke Steele and defender Paul McShane move in the opposite direction.

Kuszczak agreed a contract which would keep him with United for four years, an initial season on loan and then three further campaigns as a permanent signing.

The deputy to Edwin Van Der Sar for much of his time as a Red Devil, Kuszczak, who extended his contract until June 2012 in September 2008, has made only 61 appearances in his six years at Old Trafford, none this season.

In February, the 10-times-capped Polish international joined Watford on loan and so far has played 12 games for the Hornets, including the recent 2-1 defeat of the Blues at Vicarage Road. Kuszczak hopes his spell with Watford will give him a chance of making the Polish squad for Euro 2012.

Sir Alex Ferguson has already confirmed that Kuszczak will be leaving Old Trafford at the end of the season with his contract up and Town are unlikely to be the only interested party.

While at United the 6ft 3in tall keeper has won three Premier League winners’ medals as well as two League Cup, three Community Shield, one Champions League and one FIFA Club World Cup.

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

Sindre94 added 17:00 - Apr 18 Rather westwood... but i wont say no
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TP16 added 17:02 - Apr 18 Fergie signed the lad from West Brom, so for Utd to swoop for a player in that fashion, there must be some talent there, not to mention the fact he's been at Old Trafford a good few years now, onwards and upwards!
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CornardBlue added 17:31 - Apr 18 Goalkeeper and centre back are the two signings PJ has to get right this summer. PJ i think is in the last year of his contract so he will sink or swim by these two signings. I don't know much about this kepper but i do rate Westwood also Gerkin at Bristol City, but it will all be down to what wage budget PJ is given by Marcus Evans.
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jas0999 added 17:32 - Apr 18 No thanks and would be disappointed if we signed yet another 30 year old - particularly after PJ's 'I have learnt from my mistakes' speech. Would command a large salary and is frankly average at best. Need to be looking at a 26/27 year old who will be in the team and a regular for 3 or 4 seasons. Must build from the back - PJ's biggest failing to date.
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buryblue77 added 17:38 - Apr 18 Jas, he's 30. Have you not seen how long keepers go on for, he's kept Loach out of the Watford side and maybe some people don't rate him because he's not quite good enough for Man Utd, but I'm sure he's good enough for any team in our League. At 30, now most outfield players have 5 years left in them, keepers are going on into their late 30's and even into 40's, look at Friedel, Spurs signed him to be their number one at 39 and he'll be 42 by the time his contract expires, and their number 2 is Cudicini who's 38. Swartzer is 39, Given 35, and Van der Saar retired last year at 39, I don't want to hear anyone say a 30 year old keper is too old.

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WarkyWonderLand added 17:53 - Apr 18 Good if we can afford him otherwise would go for Tom Heaton at Cardiff. Need to do business as early as possible especially as PJ is having them back for pre season earlier than usual. Gk, centre half and a right back crucial. Can then utilize Edwards in midfield. Coyb
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Langdon_Blue added 18:24 - Apr 18 I hope this is true and would be happy to see him posing for pictures holding up the shirt ASAP. I guess we are going to be in for another long Summer, full of 'links' with players. COYB. We MUST return to being a major force in this league, next season.
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bluelady added 18:25 - Apr 18 Thirty is when a keeper should be reaching his peak, i know little about this guy so cannot really comment on if i think he is a good aquisition or not but certainly anyone who knows anything about football knows 30 for a GK is certainly not 'old' at all.
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buryblue77 added 18:27 - Apr 18 Bluelady, to quote you:anyone who knows anything about football knows 30 for a GK is certainly not 'old' at all.' Well Jas said he's too old, need I say anymore? '
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stoofer added 18:48 - Apr 18 bob hope and no hope springs to mind.
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Shauny78 added 18:55 - Apr 18 nice to know PJ is thinking ahead for next season,but if thats the keeper he's after i would have kept quiet about it for a little longer,every other manager has just been alerted............!
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TractorTrog added 18:55 - Apr 18 Im sure Jas means well but he is definatly wrong on this one...Man Utd dont sign and keep players if their a waste of time and mony either Ferguson is ruthless and would have weedled him out a long time ago if that were the case...in our division I think he would be solid and with ALB as back up were on to a winner just getting him down here is the the job in hand good luck PJ and SC hope we can get him if not then someone as soon as we can!!!

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Blue041273 added 18:59 - Apr 18 The physical requirements for a goalie are different to those needed in outfield players thus good goalkeepers do not pass their 'use by' date as quickly as their outfield colleagues. However in the modern game the young goalies will struggle to make the grade as so few places are available and the good goalies are fit enough to play on into their 40's. TK was obviously good enough to be worth £2m+ of Man U's money when he was 24. I can't imagine that his ability has gone; it'll now be down to whether he wants to carry on sitting on the bench for a PL team picking up big bucks or actually playing for a living. He's already missed the prime of his career much like our own RW. It will be interesting to see where he goes from here.

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h32 added 19:26 - Apr 18 ........ same old story - out of our price/ wage bracket - don't get excited, better to forget it now.
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TimmyH added 19:44 - Apr 18 not going to happen....next one
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Langdon_Blue added 19:57 - Apr 18 TimmyH - and on that bombshell..ah haaaa!
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Mungo added 20:41 - Apr 18 I think some of the posters on this site need to get real with their expectations otherwise they are going to have a very disappointing summer! Apparently we need to look for a top quality goalkeeper, who is experienced at this level, no older than 27, will be desperate to play for ITFC, will command a low/no tranfer fee and will accept low wages. I can't think of anyone who matches all those criteria (!) so I'll just settle for someone better than what we already have!

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SamWhiteUK added 20:44 - Apr 18 I think he would be quality, when I heard Man U were sending him out on loan I thought, "we should be targeting him", now we're linked, I hope this goes through
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gilo1973 added 20:52 - Apr 18 It is good to see Jas099 is on form again - no idea what age is ideal for a keeper. Michel Vorm has the best stats this year and is 28 so a 30 year old of this calibre has much to offer. Having said that I dont think this story will develop into anything of interest.
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RegencyBlue added 20:53 - Apr 18 Why the hell would he come here when I imagine there are Premier League sides who might be interested?
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NW10_Tractor added 20:54 - Apr 18 Dean Gerken! I'm sure a move back east would delight both him and us!
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marcus139 added 21:12 - Apr 18 Perhaps not the right thread, but been catching up and nobody reads old threads. Jas and walberswick. Go support Norwich. Please. Jewell is building a darn good side. Has made some mistakes, but so did bobby and burley. From the football I have seen though lately, it is light years better than Keynes rubbish. We should all get behind them now. P.s this is a good goalie.

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Gazelle added 22:56 - Apr 18 What's all this rubbish saying that PJ should have kept it a secret. Kuszczak will have told the whole country that he's available long before we showed an interest.
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Michael11 added 23:00 - Apr 18 Never really rated him really, would be much happier with Scott Loach who is good, young and passionate about the club who would probs want half the wages Kuszczak would ask for too
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ipswichtil1die added 23:44 - Apr 18 well said marcus, fed up of reading their nonsense!
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