Town boss Roy Keane is targeting Sunderland keeper Marton Fulop to compete with Brian Murphy and Arran Lee-Barrett for the Blues' number one shirt next season. Hungarian international Fulop was signed by Keane when he was manager at the Stadium of Light.
The 27-year-old, who has another year left on his Sunderland contract, started his career with MTK Hungaria during which time he went on loan to Elöre and Siófok, also in his homeland.
After a three-day trial in July 2004, the 6ft 5in tall keeper joined Spurs. In 2004/05 he spent time on loan at Chesterfield, then the following season joined Coventry on a similar basis.
In November 2006 he joined Sunderland, making his move to the Stadium of Light a permanent one in the following January for a fee of £900,000.
Fulop, who has won 20 Hungarian caps, moved on loan to Leicester in August 2007 and was expected to stay with the Foxes until the end of the season. However, after the clubs failed to agree a fee for his permanent move to the Walkers Stadium in the following January — Leicester offered £1 million, Sunderland wanted £3 million — he returned to Wearside.
In February 2008 he briefly joined Stoke on loan but was recalled after four days to cover an injury at Sunderland, however, the Potters and Black Cats agreed a £3 million fee that summer but the move eventually broke down.
This season Fulop, whose contract is up in the summer of 2011, has made only 14 appearances for the Black Cats with Craig Gordon currently the first choice and Trevor Carson the regular sub.
Last week, Fulop joined Manchester City on an emergency loan basis as cover for the injured Shay Given, making his debut in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Aston Villa, but his move to Eastlands is not expected to stretch beyond the final games of the Premier League season.
The Wearsiders may well be willing to allow the Hungarian, who is a close friend of Town striker Tamás Priskin, to leave for a fee well below his previous valuation.
Blues boss Roy Keane has stated that he likes to have three keepers in his squad with Richard Wright departing in the summer.