BWFC 2023 Summer Transfer Targets: Goalkeeper
With Bolton Wanderers confirmed as League One participants for the 2023/2024 season, attention can now turn to the potential signings needed to challenge for automatic promotion next season.
We know that James Trafford will not be returning to Wanderers next term and he leaves some big gloves to fill, being one of League One’s top keepers over the past 18 months. Thanks for the memories Traff and good luck in your next step!
With Wanderers’ only other senior keeper, Joel Dixon, likely to be released, signing a new starting GK (and a capable deputy) will be close to the top of Evatt and Markham’s off-season ‘To Do’ list.
Jamie Cumming
Team: Chelsea
Age: 23 (04/09/1999)
Cumming’s Chelsea contract expires this summer. He’s had four very successful EFL loans in recent years — with Stevenage in 20/21, Gillingham and MK Dons in 21/22 and MK Dons again this season just gone, recently winning MK Dons Player of the Year. Cumming is comfortable playing with ball at his feet, whilst possessing incredible reflexes and agility.
Despite having not yet come close to Chelsea’s first team he’s enough of a prospect to secure a new deal with the Blues, if not though there’ll be plenty of Championship and League One clubs interested in his services.
Josh Vickers
Team: Rotherham United
Age: 27 (01/12/1995)
Rotherham released their retained list earlier this week (Wed 17th) and confirmed they’d offered a new contract to Vickers. However, with Viktor Johansson firmly entrenched as The Millers number one after an impressive season, Vickers may well want to search for a starting spot elsewhere whilst in the prime of his career.
He started 20 games for promoted Rotherham last season in League One and 35 in the 19/20 season for Lincoln (also League One). Also has 3 Championship and 58 League Two starts in his career.
Nathan Bishop
Team: Manchester United
Age: 23 (15/10/1999)
Bishop last contract extension came in 2021, extending his deal until 2023, with the option of another year — however he may well be allowed to leave on a free this summer.
Came through the Southend academy (making 39 first team appearances for The Shrimpers across two seasons) before signing for Manchester United in January 2020. Bishop then spent the 21/22 season on loan at Mansfield where he started all 46 league games.
A loan deal to Wycombe fell through last summer so Bishop has spent this season playing in PL2 for Manchester United’s U21s (featuring against Wanderers in the Papa John’s Trophy round of 16). Has made the United first team bench on four occasions this season.
Luke Southwood
Team: Reading (released)
Age: 25 (06/12/1997)
A Northern Ireland international, Southwood is a Reading academy graduate, making 30 first team appearances across two seasons for The Royals (25 in the Championship). Was on loan at Cheltenham this season where he started all 46 league games helping The Robins secure a 16th place finish.
Has been, quite bizarrely, released by Reading who could have made use of a starting League One keeper now that they’re a League One club (go figure). Their loss could very much be Wanderers’ gain though and interest in Southwood’s signature will be high.
Dillon Phillips
Team: Cardiff City (on loan at KV Oostende)
Age: 27 (11/06/1995)
A Charlton academy graduate, Phillips made 102 appearances for the first team over the course of 4 seasons at The Addicks. Was named as Charlton’s player of the year in the 19/20 season as he started all 46 league games in the Championship.
He then joined Cardiff in October 2020 but has struggled to make the №1 shirt his since joining. Has been playing in the Jupiler Pro League this season on loan at KV Oostende, making 12 starts in the league. Is out of contract at Cardiff this summer and will likely be released.
Harry Isted
Team: Luton Town (on loan at Barnsley)
Age: 26 (05/03/1997)
Isted spent time in Southampton’s and Stoke’s academies as a youngster before singing for Luton in 2017. Despite spending the last six years there, he’s only managed to make 6 first team appearances for The Hatters, racking up various non-league loan spells at Chesham United, Oxford City and Wealdstone.
His current loan spell with Barnsley is his first ‘real’ experience of senior league football, covering for the injured Brad Collins and has made 21 appearances for The Tykes since joining in January.
Luton don’t disclose the length of the contracts they give out, however seeing as Isted latest extension with them came in 2021, it’s probable that was a 2-year deal and his contract is expiring this summer. At 26 it’s hard to see Isted breaking into Luton’s first team, especially if they win promotion to the Premier League on Saturday.
Sol Brynn (Loan)
Team: Middlesbrough
Age: 20 (30/10/2000)
Middlesbrough native Brynn spent this season on loan at Swindon, starting all 46 league games. After a shaky start he grew with confidence and impressed down in Wiltshire, coming second in Swindon’s Player of the Season award.
With his current deal set to expire in 2024, Boro have recently opened up contract negotiations with Brynn. Should they get that sorted, I imagine they will look to loan him out to a League One team next season.
Carl Rushworth (Loan)
Team: Brighton & Hove Albion
Age: 21 (02/07/2001)
Trafford’s teammate in the England U21 setup, Rushworth has spent this season on loan at Lincoln, starting 42 league games. This followed a successful loan at Walsall in the 21/22 season where he made 43 starts in the league.
It’s possible Brighton will want to test Rushworth in the Championship next season, however if they are happy to sanction another League One loan, I think Wanderers would be a suitable destination.
Arthur Okonkwo (Loan)
Team: Arsenal (on loan at SK Sturm Graz)
Age: 21 (09/09/2001)
Okonkwo started the season on loan at Crewe, where he was a standout in a poor performing side. He started 23 league games for The Railwaymen before joining Austrian Bundesliga side Strum Graz on loan. His spell in Austria has also been a success, so his (and Arsenal’s) sights may now be set higher than a League One loan, but I think a spell at a promotion chasing third tier side could still be feasible.
