Yahoo News Birmingham City can sign League One’s best goalkeeper on free transfer
Free agents are landing on the market all the time and there are some attractive options available to Birmingham City.
Blues released five senior players over the weekend, with their five loanees also departing, meaning a large number of players will need to be signed again this summer. Experienced duo John Ruddy and Lukas Jutkiewicz have been offered new contracts and Blues have extended Keshi Anderson’s contract by a further 12 months.
Due to the departure of Neil Etheridge, Blues will need to sign at least one new goalkeeper this summer. If Ruddy opts to reject the offer of a new deal and move elsewhere, Blues will need to find two glovesmen for the League One campaign ahead.
Championship-bound Derby County sprung a surprise on Saturday by releasing Joe Wildsmith, who won the League One Golden Glove award last term for being the division’s best goalkeeper. Wildsmith kept 20 clean sheets in his 40 League One outings for the Rams and conceded the fewest goals.
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Reacting to his surprise release on social media, Wildsmith said: “Thank you for everything. It’s been a crazy two years, and I’ve loved every minute of it. I came here to help this massive club get back to the Championship and leave having done that. What a way to go out.
“I’d like to thank all the players I had the pleasure of sharing the pitch and this experience with, and also the staff behind the scenes for all the work they do day in and day out!
“Last but definitely not least, I want to thank the club's supporters for making me feel so welcome from the start, and being so kind to my family. The support you have shown me over the last two years has not gone unnoticed. Thank you! I wish the club all the best in the future!”
The former Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper, 28, is now on the lookout for a new club. He is one of several enticing free agents available to Blues and Co this summer.
