Boss Roy Keane says he has identified a player who he feels can help end Town’s goalscoring woes. The Town manager feels this season’s lack of goals - skipper Jon Walters topped the charts with just eight - came as a shock.

Keane told the club site: "There are loads that we need to improve on, players, staff, but without doubt getting in a goalscorer or two is a priority.

"The lack of goals last season was the biggest single disappointment for me and I think it caught us all by surprise.

"In terms of a goalscorer, I have a player who I have identified as someone I feel could come in and do a good job for us and he is a realistic target.

"I'd like to get one or two positions covered pretty quickly, but I'm also aware that I need to show an element of patience. I'd like to have players in place by the time we start pre-season but lots of deals get done well into the summer, so we may have to sit tight for a while."

Scunthorpe’s Gary Hooper has been regularly linked with the Blues and several other clubs in recent weeks, while Cardiff’s Michael Chopra is also claimed to be a potential target, along with former loanee Daryl Murphy.

Keane has confirmed that he will also be looking at adding a third keeper to his squad now that Richard Wright has been released: "That's another area we have to get right. We've let Wrighty go, so we need to bring another keeper in. We used five goalkeepers last season and you're not going to get anywhere when you use those numbers."

Sunderland’s Marton Fulop is understood to be Keane’s number one goalkeeping target.

Photo: Action Images

MarkITFC added 17:53 - May 17 id get Hooper !
0

SouperJim added 17:58 - May 17 It didn't catch us all by surprise roy, most Town fans had been saying we needed a goalscorer for a good 2 years.
0

Luke8644 added 17:58 - May 17 hooper, billy sharp, maybe ross mccormack if they are willing to sell, theyd all do the job we need
0

Suffolk_n_Good added 17:59 - May 17 Judging by the tone of what Keane has said, I don't think he's got Daryl Murphy in mind, lets hope whoever it is he nails him soon, & then another one to go with him!!
0

TractorBoy added 18:00 - May 17 Lambert please!
0

bedsitfc added 18:15 - May 17 charlie austin from swindon, lambert from southampton, hooper from scunny, sharpe from sheff utd, tudguy from wednesday i think one or two from this 5
0

ChambersM added 18:16 - May 17 what was the point in letting richard wright go? He wouldn't have been first choice anyway so its not like he wasnt good enough to have at the club. As for this striker...yeah right
0

GlenPennyfather added 18:24 - May 17 Although I am a huge fan of Richard Wright, he was probably our highest paid permanent member of staff ... so I suspect that was the point in letting him go (especially if he wasn't going to be first choice)
0

ChambersM added 18:27 - May 17 maybe the offer of a paycut? I wouldnt have been surprised if he accepted because of his age i dont think he wanted to go anywhere just like david wright, therefore it wouldnt be a surprise if atleast one of them was at norwich next year
0

denhamblue added 18:29 - May 17 yawn,this story,will be still dragging on in a month,bank on it.
0

Bluetone added 18:43 - May 17 There's a guy called Jordan Rhodes might be worth a punt.
0

Bluetone added 18:44 - May 17 Keane told the club site: "There are loads that we need to improve on, players, staff, but without doubt getting in a good manager is a priority.
0

aejb added 18:47 - May 17 Robert Koren has just been released by WBrom. Wouldnt mind Chopra. What about Kev Phillips? He cant have much of a future at Bham who have also released McSheffrey? Chopra & Koren due to the amopunt of goals he scored would be a decnt start to the signings
0

Mark added 19:05 - May 17 How did a lack of goals catch us by surprise when we struggled in that area the last two or three seasons, and when we could not hit the back of the net much against some very weak opposition in pre-season? Hopefully this time we can bring in a couple of decent strikers, and maybe it will become clearer depending on play-offs (e.g. Cardiff and Swindon). I also do not understand Keane's point about goalkeepers. He is saying we used too many last season, so why is he looking to bring in another one? We have B.Murphy whom I thought Keane valued so highly he expects him to become Ireland's number one? With Lee-Barratt a capable reserve and the option of youth and loan players, why one earth blow transfer funds on another goalie?!

0

bluewall3 added 19:06 - May 17 my mate from sheffield, reckons billy sharp would do well here he thinks the blades should never have let him go. he seams to do well in a team that plays atractive football not kick and run stuff, so it depends what stye we play next season, prob cost about 1millon? in this day and age thats not alot!!!
0

fifeblue added 19:11 - May 17 I see that Real Madrid are willing to loan Kaka out next season. Coincidence of timing of Keano's statement?
0

julesbda added 19:14 - May 17 I don't mind who it is as long as he scores goals...if he doesn't then we'll be investing in a new manager that much i know !!..so you better get it right Roy !!
0

kentblue added 19:38 - May 17 Agree with Bluetone." A bad workman ( MANAGER ) blames his tools " Let's start strengthening from the top !
0

stinkiusminkius added 19:40 - May 17 Like many have already said , the lack of goals was no real surprise as it's been the problem for a good while now. Then add in the fact that keane always favoured playing 3 very samey, fairly defensive midfielders with little width or creativity and it's even less of a surprise.
0

Lightningboy added 19:48 - May 17 With you Bluetone..almost feel like next season's been written off already with this clueless,misery guts in charge..He better pray that whoever he brings in to score goals does it immediately cos I think he'll be gone sooner rather than later if we're still fannying about in the bottom half of the table again come october. At least one way or another things will be better by xmas.

0

jamie22 added 20:06 - May 17 If Cardiff don't go up, I reckon Chopra could be with us, however I would much prefer McCormack. They might have to sell him due to money issues they have. McCormack and Hooper/Sharp would be great signings, am I only dreaming though!?
0

dirtydingusmagee added 21:22 - May 17 another,obvious, meaningless,statement,to get a few dewy eyed followers thinking we are going to sign a ''dogs b'llocks'' striker.August will come around and it will be same sh;t as last season .
0

Hamish1979 added 21:42 - May 17 Are you having a bit of a bad day dirtydinusmagee?
0

WadeyBlue added 22:21 - May 17 It's Dwight York from County Sunderland.
0

Mungo added 22:22 - May 17 To be fair, RK appears to be trying to fix this particular problem, but this story is pointless. If there is nothing to say, then say nothing. Until the target signs on the dotted line, don't talk the deal up in the media. This particular problem will be tricky enough to solve and will likely polarise the supporters further as it is, without RK cranking up the pressure. Throwing money at it will not necessarily achieve anything (Priskin). RK needs to be very careful about which of his targets he brings in on this one and must make sure they are capable of bringing home the bacon...

0

Blogs 296 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls