Prior to England’s final World Cup group match against Belgium in Kaliningrad this evening, Blues keeper Bartosz Bialkowski’s Poland play Japan in their last game at the finals in Volgograd (BBC2 from 2.45pm, KO 3pm).
Bialkowski was an unused sub during the defeats to Senegal, 2-1, and Colombia, 3-0, which saw the Poles, who are bottom of Group H, make an early exit from the competition and the 30-year-old, the third-choice keeper in the squad, is again not expected to be involved this afternoon.
Town’s three-times-Player of the Year is likely to be given a few days off before joining up with the Blues squad, who travel to Spain for a training camp at the Pinatar Arena Football Center, San Pedro del Pinatar, Murcia next week following six days’ work at Playford Road.
Meanwhile, according to Sky Sports, Cardiff boss Neil Warnock considered an approach for Bialkowski prior to turning his attention to QPR keeper Alex Smithies, who is close to completing a switch to the newly-promoted Bluebirds in a deal worth an initial £3 million and a further £500,000 if the Welshman are still in the Premier League at the end of the season.
In January, Crystal Palace made a move for Bialkowski and the Blues are expected to receive further interest before the transfer window closes on August 9th.
Town activated a one-year option on the keeper’s contract towards the end of last season but the former Notts County and Southampton man is still to sign the contract which former manager Mick McCarthy announced in January had been agreed.
Speaking in April, Bialkowski said his agent was continuing to talk to Blues owner Marcus Evans.