Sunderland boss Steve Bruce says Town are on the verge of signing Black Cats keeper Márton Fülöp. Town made an enquiry regarding the £1 million-rated Hungarian international last week.

Bruce says the former Spurs man is talking personal terms with the Blues: "Márton Fülöp is on the edge of joining Ipswich.

"They are talking personal terms as I understand it, so something should be finalised shortly as long as those talks go well."

An international team-mate and close friend of Tamás Priskin, Fülöp 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 moved on to 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 21 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.

Last season Fülöp made only 14 appearances for the Black Cats with Craig Gordon the first choice and Trevor Carson the regular sub. More recently Belgian U21 international Simon Mignolet has also moved to the Stadium of Light. Gordon suffered a broken arm in pre-season and Bruce is looking to sign David James.

Towards the end of the campaign Fülöp joined Manchester City on an emergency loan basis as cover for the injured Shay Given, but his move to Eastlands was never expected to stretch beyond the final games of the Premier League season.

Blues boss Roy Keane has stated that he likes to have three keepers in his squad and with Richard Wright departing in the summer will want an additional glovesman to compete with Brian Murphy and Arran Lee-Barrett. TWTD first reported the Blues’ interest in Fülöp in May.

Yesterday Fülöp, who has a year left on his Sunderland contact, was linked with newly-promoted La Liga side Hercules but he understood to have turned down the move to Spain. Anderlecht and Olympiakos were also reportedly interested earlier in the summer, along with a couple of Premier League sides.

Over the weekend, the Blues were mentioned in connection with former Manchester United keeper Roy Carroll, now with Odense in Denmark. However, the Northern Irishman says he knows nothing of the story: “Nothing, absolutely nothing! That story is probably a good reason not to return to England at this time of the year as the press is always extra busy!

“If I am going to leave Odense it would only be for Real Madrid, but I am probably a bit too late for that.”

Elsewhere, reported Town target Gary Hooper has completed his move to Celtic.

Photo: Action Images

itfc12 added 11:34 - Jul 27 good!
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tom_the_blue added 11:35 - Jul 27 Very solid keeper, which gives us security in that are with three keepers who are all good enough for this level. Now we need a right back, hopefully finnan, and 2 strikers, preferably one young one on loan. A central midfielder is also needed.
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tom_the_blue added 11:36 - Jul 27 *area, not are
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salforduniblue added 11:36 - Jul 27 Looking forward to seeing him push Jamie Peters for that right back slot. Good luck to him
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OnlyOneSirBobby added 11:37 - Jul 27 get him signed up....and get focused on that striker!! with connor going down with his injury, we need a striker (or two) even more so now!
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BlueBadger added 11:53 - Jul 27 Imaginative scouting here from Roy Keane, that should silence all the doubters!
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Back_The_Boss added 11:54 - Jul 27 Good keeper, do we need 3 keepers though?
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oldbluestu added 12:01 - Jul 27 A very average keeper nothing special. Could have got another keeper of the same ability for half the price
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blueknights added 12:04 - Jul 27 Good piece of business. Let a good keeper go, albeit on heavy wages, bring in a replacement of similar calibre, also on heavy wages and pay a hefty fee. Good piece of business. Anybody else noticed how Palace are looking more like Town every day? In fact, beginning to look more like Town than Town look?
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devontractorboy added 12:09 - Jul 27 We'll need a good keeper this season. Now with Connor out a striker or two would come in handy Roy!!!!
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arc added 12:12 - Jul 27 Ridiculous. What a waste of money. What did Murphy do wrong? How is L-B an inadequate reserve? Isn't McLoughlin a promising youngster? And what is wrong with the loan market in emergencies? Nonsense. Please tell Keane that we don't have to name a squad for the Champions League.
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dobbie73 added 12:14 - Jul 27 @BoredWithThisNow - a bit harsh don't you think? This keeper move has been going on for days (if not weeks), and Wickham's injury has only just happened! Give him a chance for Christ sake. I'm sure the club infrastructure can stretch to dealing with more than one transfer at a time .... @kingkeano - he has always said he wants 3 keepers!
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tom_the_blue added 12:14 - Jul 27 'BoredWithThisNow', when did the rule come in saying that a manager can only work on one transfer at a time? of course, you know he isnt trying to sign any strikers, dont you?
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StowTractorBoy added 12:14 - Jul 27 This is only my opinion but I feel that £1m on a goalkeeper is over the top. I personally feel that Murphy is a decent keeper and more than adequate but to spend a million when there are greater priorities baffles me frankly. Time will tell I suppose but spending a million if that is the case will mean he will be our 1st choice keeper which is harsh on Murphy who did little wrong last season just need to polish up on his kicking..

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BoredWithThisNow added 12:22 - Jul 27 Another (over-priced) keeper added and a 34 year old defender on the way. Bet Gordon Strachan's quaking in his boots at the prospect of Town at home on the opening day.
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SiBo added 12:25 - Jul 27 Good business in my opinion. Better than we currently have, therefore takes the squad forward... yes we need players elsewhere on the pitch, but that doesn't mean we don't need a better keeper.
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GetSereniBack added 12:25 - Jul 27 To be fair Fulop is a good solid Goalkeeper, but Keano has to stick with Murphy. Just think about what it will do his confidence if he is dropped without really putting a foot wrong. On the other day dont you think this has been done for Priskins benefit, its been said there best friends and it may aswell help Priskin Settle in the area. Killing two birds with one stone here :)

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ldnj added 12:34 - Jul 27 Obviously as there aren't going to be many goals scored he's spending money on defence instead !!
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ITFCAlex added 12:35 - Jul 27 Take it. Now to keep Garvan and Counago, get a left back (what's going down with Kennedy?), a right back and a striker if Stead leaves. When does the season start again?
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BerlinBlue added 12:39 - Jul 27 could his signing somehow help priskin? it's always nice to have a fellow countryman in the ranks when you're living abroad...
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SiBo added 12:41 - Jul 27 Getsereniback: Exactly what i was saying on another thread a few days ago... part of this may be to encourage Priskin to settle a little better. Let's hope it works! Especially with Wickham out.
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stinkiusminkius added 12:43 - Jul 27 I think he's a very good keeper at this level and should be first choice with murphy as back up. But I do agree that there are much more pressing priorities which we can only hope keane is going to address. Although last season he didn't always get his priorities right, so itsnot guaranteed.
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marchy added 12:49 - Jul 27 @SiBo - let's hope so, but having Akos Buszaky with him at QPR didn't stop him being crap, so if that logic plays any part in this transfer we're probably just throwing good money after bad.
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SeriouslyDelusional added 12:56 - Jul 27 Good addition for me, he is a quality keeper from what I have seen. RK obviously believes a top keeper is key to a successful side, and based on the impact that Begovic made last season you can see his point. If this is one of the 5 then no problem, but if it's one of 3 and Kennedy is another, then I sincerely hope that Chopra or a striker of his calibre is on his way

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Marshalls_Mullet added 13:01 - Jul 27 Murphy is average at best, pleased to see we have signed a decent keeper. Not as good as Wright however, and must be a higher overall cost.
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