Town are one of a number of British clubs to have shown interest in Hammarby IF keeper Johannes Hopf, according to the Swedish club’s sporting director Gustaf Grauers. The Blues, Swindon, Charlton and Hibernian are all said to have been eyeing the 6ft 5in tall stopper.

Grauers said: “I know there is interest, absolutely. I only know about foreign clubs - Ipswich, Swindon and Charlton in the Championship [sic] and Hibernian in Scotland.

“He's got one and a half years left on his contract. I know he has the ambition to play as high up as possible.

“In Sweden he naturally wants to participate in taking Hammarby to the Allsvenskan [top flight]. But if he can get a good contract at a club abroad he would like that. He's not trying to hide that fact. But there are no bids."

Hopf played youth and amateur football with Brösarps IF, IFK Simrishamn and Ystads IF before joining Hammarby IF in 2008. After a spell on loan with the linked Hammarby TFF in the lower regional leagues, he broke into the first team at the end of the 2009 season with the club already set for relegation to the Superettan (second tier).

He started the following campaign as deputy to Swedish international and former Arsenal man Rami Shaaban but ultimately took his place in the side and has subsequently established himself as the number one.

Town are very much in the market for a new keeper to join their only current senior glovesman Arran Lee-Barrett, with trialist Eldin Jakupović signing for Hull City on Sunday, while clubs abroad and agents are keen to generate UK interest in their players at this time of the year.

Manager Paul Jewell said on Thursday that he had “two or three other targets” aside from the Bosnian-born former Swiss international, who had previously been offered terms by the Tigers at the end of last season.

Story syndicated from TWTD.co.uk

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