TWTD understands that West Ham’s Czech U21 international keeper Marek Stech is on trial with the Blues. The 21-year-old is currently fourth choice at Upton Park and was close to joining League One Yeovil on loan earlier in the month.
Stech joined the Hammers from Slavia Prague’s youth set-up for an undisclosed fee in August 2006. Since then the 6ft 3in tall keeper has made three senior appearances for the London club, all in the Carling Cup, as well as coming on as a sub in the pre-season friendly against the Blues at Portman Road in August 2008.
The Prague-born keeper has also spent time out on loan at Wycombe Wanderers, where he made two appearances, and Bournemouth, where he made one.
Stech, who has been capped at U17 and U19 levels by his country in addition to his six appearances for the U21s, is unlikely to have too many opportunities at West Ham this season and is available for loan.
Earlier in the month, Stech played in a behind-closed-doors reserves friendly for Yeovil, who were interested in recruiting him as cover for their first choice Jed Steer, who is on loan from Norwich.
Town are on the lookout for a third keeper as cover for David Stockdale, whose season-long loan from Fulham includes a 24-hour recall clause, and Arran Lee-Barrett.
Former keeper Richard Wright has recently been training with the Blues but manager Paul Jewell has played down the chances of the ex-England international having a third spell at his hometown club other than in an emergency.
Speaking a fortnight ago, the Town boss said he is targeting a younger glovesman: "We are on the look-out for another goalkeeper, a young one to take us forward in the future because Stocky might be called back at any time.
"We are aware of the situation where we’ve got Arran and we might have Richard [Wright] as back-up, but in the long-term we need another young goalkeeper to take us forward and that search is continuing.”