Town could complete the signing of Notts County keeper Bartosz Bialkowski as soon as today, according to Midlands sources. Earlier, TWTD reported that the Blues were closing in on signing the 26-year-old former loanee, who was also a target last summer.

According to the Nottingham Post, Bialkowski's move to Town could be confirmed today, which would allow him to join up with the Blues squad when they travel to their training camp at the Carton House hotel in Co Kildare on Sunday.

A month ago, TWTD reported that the Pole would be on Mick McCarthy and keeper-coach Malcolm Webster’s list of potential targets, having been interesting the Blues last summer.

Bialkowski spent a short spell on loan with the Blues in 2009 from Southampton without making a first-team appearance and was previously coached by Webster during their time together with the Saints.

While on loan with Town the keeper was red-carded during his reserves debut in a game at Luton when he handled the ball outside the area with the Hatters bearing down on goal.

Earlier in the summer, Bialkowski told the Polish media that he is set to leave Notts County, despite having a year left on his contract, and that he was close to a move to a Championship club, with Brighton having been linked.

Town are in need of an additional senior goalkeeper with Scott Loach having moved on to Rotherham earlier in the summer.

The fee County will want for 6ft 4in tall Bialkowski — likely to be in the low hundred thousands - may have been an obstacle preventing the Blues from firming up their interest earlier in the summer but Town are in an improved position with West Ham agreeing to pay an initial £3.75 million fee for Aaron Cresswell yesterday.

Photo: Action Images

joshITFCporter added 15:09 - Jul 4 really don't think he will be any better than gerken, don't think he will be right for us and he looked average at best last season. would be better off getting someone with good championship experience
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BlooooCD added 15:10 - Jul 4 These new guys at the helm of our club do NOT mess around when it comes to getting deals done... Lovely to see from a supporters perspective. Those dark days of having players at the club to sign and then walking out without a deal being done thankfully seem like a thing of the past... #CLEGGOUT!
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JWM added 15:11 - Jul 4 And just when things were going well... DOH!
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MaySixth added 15:14 - Jul 4 Kelvin Davis is on record saying that Bartosz Bialkowski is the most talented goalkeeper he played alongside. Unfortunately Bialkowski suffered a nervous breakdown en route to Derby for Southampton's semi-final play off second leg in 2007 where he askedGeorge Burley not to play him. He was never the same again for Southampton after that but seems to have rediscovered his form at Noots County. Good luck and welcome aboard son.

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groovyASH added 15:18 - Jul 4 He's had two good seasons as a number 1 and played pretty much every game in that time, and is very highly rated at Notts County. Would be a good signing!
7

Solly added 15:19 - Jul 4 Some great, reasoned comments on other Bialkowski threads today. Notts fans are very sorry to see him go, he was fabulous for them last year, and was key to them staying up. He's a Championship goalie, and I for one am delighted we've got him. Forget his first spell here, it's irrelevant.
4

BlooooCD added 15:23 - Jul 4 Yeah I agree with the last comments.. The Notts County supporters seem to be gutted to see him leave. I was under the impression he has had a decent couple of seasons for them and is now looking to make the next step up. I for one will be very happy if he joins us. COYB;s!
3

JWM added 15:24 - Jul 4 Notts fans are sorry to see him go? That's a laugh most would like to drive him down here to make sure he's gone! I hope he is only a back up back up else we are in big trouble!
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Kesgraveblue57 added 15:26 - Jul 4 He must be a good keeper he has played for the great Notts County !
0

groovyASH added 15:33 - Jul 4 JWM that is such a troll comment; every NCFC fan message I have seen suggests he is highly rated by the fanbase
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JWM added 15:35 - Jul 4 I've got mates up in Nottingham and they all reckon he's gash! We shall see!
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MGNottsBlue added 15:39 - Jul 4 JWM that simply is not true...I live in Nottingham and one of my mates is a County fan who is gutted to see him go, says he was instrumental in keeping them up last season. He also says that he is far to good for league one and deserves a chance to step up to Championship level. If this goes through I am looking forward to him competing with Gerken for the No.1 jersey.

6

essexboy added 15:41 - Jul 4 JWM,they must all be closet Norwich fans then.!!
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joshITFCporter added 16:04 - Jul 4 watched him play against rotherham united last season and was very poor conceding 6 goals, a few of which were very poor goalkeeping, he conceded 4 to peterborough on both occasions and also conceded 3 to relegated shrewsbury and tranmere. If a player is doing poor in league 1 then I feel he shouldnt be playing for a championship club aiming for protoion
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groovyASH added 16:11 - Jul 4 Josh- thats ok then, as we're aiming for promotion
0

tractorfact added 16:11 - Jul 4 thing I like about this with Mick , there is no mucking around , he's getting people in place early for pre-season so they can we hope gel etc and we can try and push this year wonder how much of the Cressy money will Mick get ?? if any...
2

flatos97 added 16:14 - Jul 4 Don't know whats with all the negative comments. Notts County fans rate him and we desperatley need another keeper, if only a backup seems like a decent option
1

siebdykstra added 16:16 - Jul 4 JWM, I have read comments on Notts County sites, all of which say he was very good, one saying he was the best keeper in League One. There were no negative comments. So can you substantiate your comments about their fans thinking he's "gash", or have you made up some friends in Nottingham?
2

jas0999 added 16:19 - Jul 4 Can honestly say I haven't really seen him play. Therefore not fair to pass judgement. However, for me Gerken is average. Loach was average ( at best). So, he must be an improvement. Notts fans rate him. I wonder how many of the negative posters have actually seen him play? Usually, it's easy to pass judgement on players we are linked to, as we have seen them at some point. But this one, I have little knowledge on!

4

rosseden added 16:20 - Jul 4 JWM thats funny, i live in Nottingham, my local mates are about 50/50 split of forest and county, i go to more county games than forest ones as its a much more pleasant experience, and i dont know one pies fan who doesnt rate him, and im not talking 'hes ok' they really think hes a very good keeper. 26 he should be maturing into the position too so great time to get him......

4

rosseden added 16:24 - Jul 4 Jas - seen him a handful of times, hes vocal, hes a big lad, comes for crosses and actually catches them when he can, doesnt get pushed about in the box, makes decisions early and when i saw him his distribution by hand was very good, but needed a little work on kicking. all in all a very good guy to have here i think....... My biggest questionmark over Gerken and Loach was their decision making, and for me thats something that the keeping coach needs to work on, Richard Wright had similar issues with decision making at times too...... I hope MW does something about this now as you can see with the likes of Neuer and Loris playing the sweeper/keeper role at the world cup, the decision making of those guys is top notch and can be the difference between a good keeper and a great one

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jas0999 added 16:59 - Jul 4 Rosseden - thank you for the review. Sounds promising!
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NorthantsPie added 16:59 - Jul 4 JVM - take this the right way, your 'mates are talking sh!te'. Honestly if it wasn't for Bart we would have been playing league two football next season, he is absolute class, easily the best keeper in the league last season, Carl Ikeme included. If Bart does move it will be Gerken who is the back up keeper, in my opinion he is a better keeper than Kasper Schmeichel and look how good he proved he is once he stepped up into the Championship. Gutted if he does move but happy for him in equal measures as his talent deserves to be showcased.

4

Wickets added 17:23 - Jul 4 You have to have a little giggle at some of the comments on here. Town scouts have watched this keeper, Webster has worked with him and rates him and yet some posters, Are they Budgies?, know better, most of them never seen him but they all have a mate who knows a county fan who says he's cr-p. I remember that Coventry fans where quoted as saying McGoldrick was lazy!!!!!

2

bluemikey100 added 17:25 - Jul 4 oh well premiership here we come then lol
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