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Blues Among Clubs Linked With Keepers
Thursday, 25th Jun 2026 17:17

Town and fellow promoted sides Hull City and Coventry City are among the clubs reported to be eyeing Manchester United keeper Radek Vitek, while a Swedish newspaper is linking the Blues, Tigers and Aston Villa with Stoke City number one Viktor Johansson.

According to the Daily Mail, the Red Devils are keen to keep hold of 22-year-old Vitek, however, the former Czech U20 international wants to play regular football. The three promoted clubs are claimed to be interested.

Vitek, who has two years left on his contract, was on loan with Bristol City last season, having previously had spells with Accrington Stanley and in Austria with Blau-Weiß Linz.

Meanwhile, Aftonbladet is reporting Town, Hull and Villa are showing interest in Sweden international Johansson, who is currently at the World Cup.

The 27-year-old joined Stoke from Rotherham in 2024 and has kept 23 clean sheets in 79 games for the Potters.

Johansson, who has won 12 senior caps, recently signed a new four-year contract at the bet365 Stadium.

He started his English career with Villa’s academy, who he joined from Hammerby, but moved on to Leicester before making a senior appearance, although having featured during a loan spell with Alfreton.

Having also been unable to break into the Foxes side, he joined the Millers in September 2020 and it was with the South Yorkshiremen that he made his name.

Town seem certain to add to their goalkeeping ranks this summer, however, it’s understood they have been in talks with Newcastle United regarding Nick Pope, a former Blues academy player and one-time season ticket holder, and someone with his extensive Premier League experience would appear a more likely option.

Photo: Matchday Images



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algarvefan added 17:23 - Jun 25
I just hope Walton is given a chance to prove himself as number 1 at the start of the season. Thought he was great last year and has improved greatly.
28

NewForester added 17:29 - Jun 25
But algarvefan, is he premier league material?
7

Bluearmy_81 added 17:33 - Jun 25
IMHO yes, Walton is
10

bluelad7 added 17:42 - Jun 25
I agree he deserves the opportunity that he has created for himself. For being so loyal when he got injured and Hladky came in. So yes, Christian deserves the opportunity. and that is sentiment aside. I think he is good enough.
12

number8 added 17:48 - Jun 25
I’d prefer Nick Pope- a top quality keeper with experience of the league and champions league.
13

Nutkins_Return added 17:49 - Jun 25
Algarvefan there isn't much room for sentiment. He should have the same chance pre season as the new guy but the best keeper plays.
16

armchaircritic59 added 18:00 - Jun 25
There are certainly a good few decent keepers around that might be available. If any of them came down to a financial fight between ourselves and the other newly promoted clubs, it's a no contest. Is CW good enough for the PL? Well last time we saw so little of him, it's not possible to form an opinion based on that, so there's very little to go on. Absolutely no room for any sentiment regarding anyone this season, like it or not. Whoever G O'N decide is best I'll go with, if it's CW well the very best of luck to him, he won't be unemployed!
6

StockholmBlue added 18:32 - Jun 25
Please not Viktor Johansson, he is a clown and will make Grobelaar seem very orthodox in his goalkeeping.
1

blues1 added 18:40 - Jun 25
Stockholmblue. What are you on about? Johansson is an excellent keeper. One of, if not the best in the championship last season.
2

Bazza8564 added 18:47 - Jun 25
So we have Walton, Palmer, Slicker, Button and Gray on our books, Pope supposedly incoming with luck, thats 6, and we need three......hmmm forgive me if i pass on this one
0

Bazza8564 added 18:47 - Jun 25
So we have Walton, Palmer, Slicker, Button and Gray on our books, Pope supposedly incoming with luck, thats 6, and we need three......hmmm forgive me if i pass on this one
0

runningout added 19:00 - Jun 25
got to be harsh… only one of our keepers is good enough Bazza
0

jas0999 added 19:03 - Jun 25
It’s exceptionally worrying that some fans remain sentimental and clearly haven’t realised we are now a PL side. Last night, remarkably, folk were suggesting Akpom may have a role to play. Now, a decent Championship player in Walton is seen to be good enough. Deary me. I’m sure GON won’t be sentimental and rightly so.

The two keepers mentioned above are both miles better than a 34 year old Pope. Hoping for one of these.

Again, I’m sure people want to keep Palmer …. But he will likely move on. Rightly so. He’s okay. Great championship keeper. We are now a PL team.
1

Linkboy13 added 19:19 - Jun 25
Who evers in goal will need a better defence in front of him than he's got now.
8

E_I_E_I_E_I_O added 19:28 - Jun 25
Yes Walton was good but just because he was good if he's not a PL standard keeper then as harsh as it sounds he doesn't necessarily deserve a chance. We have to be cut throat. If we can get a better kepper then we cannot be sentimental just because a player done well last year.

It's like saying Taylor done well and thus deserves a chance. But you wouldn't play him instead of potential 25M signing because he done well last year.
5

armchaircritic59 added 19:43 - Jun 25
StockholmBlue. I remember a certain Brian Clough saying precisely that about a certain Polish goalkeeper that almost single handedly prevented England from qualifying for a World Cup. A clown was his exact words, one that had the last laugh of course. I confess I've seen little of Johansson, apart from the odd Stoke game, so I'm not best placed to comment on him particularly, so it would be interesting to get a wider viewpoint.
0

armchaircritic59 added 20:23 - Jun 25
Bazza, I've heard of a low block, but 6 keepers? :)
2

ringwoodblue added 22:08 - Jun 25
Can’t see Johannson being an upgrade on Walton. Pope would be my preference.
1

ParisBlue added 23:53 - Jun 25
Prefer Vitek over Pope.
-1

Hollandayze02 added 03:00 - Jun 26
I prefer Pope out of all the ones linked. I really like Walton but Pope has stellar experience. A really nice mix of technical ability and sentimentality that I really enjoy.
0

Bluepool added 07:55 - Jun 26
I don't understand those who say Walton isn't good enough for the Premier League, we saw barely a blink of him last time round, he was exceptional last season and if he performs well enough in training to give the manager confidence that he can cope at a higher level, which imo I think he could, then so be it.
0

jonnysuave added 08:17 - Jun 26
I'd be inclined to take notice of Stockholm Blue give that the evidence suggests he is in Sweden
1

Ipswichbusiness added 08:51 - Jun 26
I thought that Walton was out of contract this summer?
0

StowTractor added 09:26 - Jun 26
Ipswichbusiness Walton signed a new contract till 2028 last autumn.
0

StowTractor added 09:50 - Jun 26
Re the 6 keepers : IF Button signs the new contract it is likely to be in a coaching / training keeper role. Cant see him being registered in the PL squad, even as an emergency bench option. Heaven help us if he had to come on against City or Arsenal.
Palmer wont stick around to be 2nd choice let alone 3rd choice. He is a good championship level keeper and deserves to be allowed to go there and play, either on loan or for a modest fee.
Slicks isn't even Championship level (yet) let alone a PL keeper, even as 3rd choice. He needs to go somewhere and play. Had a successful L2 loan last season. Time to step up a level this year to L1. My Plymouth supporting mate says Argyle are interested, potentially on a permanent deal if the fee is right. Let him go there to get involved in a promotion battle, maybe on loan with an option or obligation to buy if they are promoted.
Gray is one for the future (possibly) another loan in either L1 or L2 for his development would be sensible.
Which leaves us with loyal Mr Dependable, always ready to step in when there is a crisis Walton. I would keep him as 3rd choice for the remaining 2 years of his contract. Or even as a cup games keeper.
So having whittled down the 5 keepers on our books to 1 then I would try to bring in both Pope and one of the other two (probably Vitek)to compete for the no 1 starting shirt.
1


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