Town keeper Cieran Slicker is reportedly a loan target of Scottish Premiership sides Hibernian and Kilmarnock.

Slicker joined the Blues last summer from Manchester City and made two cup starts but was also on the bench in the league on nine occasions.

The 21-year-old, who has been with the Scotland U21s squad, said earlier in the week that a loan this season will be his next step.

“Now def­in­itely is the time for me to go and play and I feel like I am in a good pos­i­tion to do so,” he said. “I want to go out and play games, that’s the main thing for me.

“I always enjoy com­ing away with the 21s but I want to show people I can do it week in and week out.

“We’ve had a lot of dis­cus­sions with the man­ager [Kieran McKenna] and goal­keep­ing coach [Rene Gilmartin] and every­one is on the same page with it.

“We’ve had a lot of dis­cus­sions with the man­ager and goal­keep­ing coach and every­one is on the same page with it.

“So now we are look­ing for options to see what is the best plat­form to help me kick on. That’s the plan.

“Per­haps people will look at it and see that I didn’t play too many games but being around the squad and work­ing with the man­ager and his staff has been almost as good as play­ing 30 games. So it was actually an important season.”

Now, the Scottish Sun reports that Hibs and Killie, where Blues defender Corrie Ndaba has just completed a successful spell, are both showing interest in taking the Manchester-born glovesman for the 2024/25 campaign.

Town’s keeper ranks could be set for a shake-up over the summer with Christian Walton perhaps moving on having rarely featured last season. Town recently took an option to extend his contract for a further season, which would ensure a fee should the 28-year-old depart.

Vaclav Hladky, who played all bar the final couple of minutes of the 2023/24, is in discussions regarding a new contract with his current terms up this summer, having said he is keen to stay.

The Blues have been widely linked with Brighton’s former England U21 keeper Carl Rushworth, 22, who spent last season on loan at Swansea City and the previous campaign at Lincoln City having had earlier stints with Worthing and Walsall.

Rushworth, who is 6ft 2in tall, is very much the profile of player the Blues have targeted over the last couple of seasons and it would be little surprise if the one-time Huddersfield and Halifax schoolboy is on this summer’s list.

Elsewhere, we understand morning links with Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O’Brien are wide of the mark.

Photo: Matchday Images

Suffolkboy added 12:56 - Jun 9 We must wait and see ; but I don’t think VH ,much as he has improved, is a Premiership level keeper — looks a bit ‘ frail ‘ in a number of aspects . Other areas definitely need reinforcement for the new set of demands . COYB
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Tractor_Boy_in_HK added 14:08 - Jun 9 This would be good for Cieran, who the club seems to think highly of as a prospect. Yes @Suffolfboy we definitely need a new number 1, an above average shot stopper with good command of the box and yet still good with his feet (in the modern mold). Rushworth is promising but maybe for year one in the EPL we need a veteran presence. Koen Casteels from Wolfsburg would be a good choice.

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Bazza8564 added 15:30 - Jun 9 I think people assessing our need to upgrade this position are spot on. Vas had a great year but i still see him as the deputy this season, so look out for more than one coming in if, as expected, Walton leaves
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Radlett_blue added 16:01 - Jun 9 We will want 2 senior keepers next season, so Slicker won't get a look-in so a loan makes sense, as long as it's structured that he can be recalled if he isn't playing. Scotland could be logical given he's been playing for their U21s so he will be well known to Scottish managers & coaches.
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victorywilhappen added 20:06 - Jun 9 Vaz is the best goalkeeper (in the many styles that we are and have played/ playing ) at Ipswich since Cooper. He is a modern GK that many didn't think could even make the Championship.So wanted a loan when Walton got injured. He is getting better and better. Just like the manager and so many of his players.
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slade1 added 07:40 - Jun 10 I like Hladky and thank him for his 100% efforts last season But he scares the hell out of me to be honest! Especially when he has the ball at his feet.
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Linkboy13 added 12:28 - Jun 10 Hladky good shot stopper but dosent dominate his area enough.
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Northstandveteran added 17:16 - Jun 10 If Hladky would stop doing flick ups in the penalty area I'd be happy. He won't get away with it against Premier class strikers.
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peewee added 20:07 - Jun 11 I hope we strengthen the defence a bit as a keeper is only as strong as the help in front of them. We would easily gone up as champions if it hadn't been for silly mistakes made
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Tractor_Boy_in_HK added 06:20 - Jun 13 The good thing is a loan at a decent level will tell us if Slicker is a real prospect worth investing in or if he's sure to go the way of Wright, Hayes, and most the rest.
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