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.
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