Luton Town plotting shock move for Birmingham City veteran, says reporter
Luton Town are plotting a ‘shock move’ for Birmingham City goalkeeper John Ruddy, reports Alan Nixon.
Ruddy, 36, only joined Birmingham City last summer. He signed a one-year deal but earned an extension through until the end of this current campaign, following a strong start to life at the club.
Luton Town meanwhile are heading to the Premier League after winning the Championship play-off final last season. And they’ve already raided Birmingham City for Tahith Chong this summer, but now it looks like they could return to St Andrew’s for Ruddy.
Nixon has revealed on his Patreon this morning that the Hatters are preparing to make a shock move for the former Norwich City and Wolves goalkeeper, who turns 37 in October.
Last season, Ruddy made 43 Championship outings for Blues and kept an impressive 14 clean sheets, adding to his 505 career appearances to date.
Ruddy to Luton
Luton have just poached goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski from Blackburn Rovers and so this emerging interest in Ruddy is even more surprising.
The Birmingham City man has bags of experience though, and last season he showed he still has the quality, so that would explain Luton’s interest.
But still, Luton’s interest in Ruddy is a strange one, and it’s hard to predict how Blues might respond given the fact that he’s out of contract in less than a year’s time.
Expect the club to be reluctant to sell the goalkeeper given how well he did last season, but if the club wants to recoup a bit of what they spent this summer then they might have to sell.
Birmingham City return to action v Cheltenham Town in the EFL Cup next week.
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Luton Town sign Blackburn goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski ahead of their first Premier League campaign with the Belgian becoming Hatters’ seventh new arrival this summer
Luton have completed the signing of Belgian goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski from Blackburn.
The 30-year-old has joined for an undisclosed fee and is set to travel with his new team-mates for the pre-season friendly against Bochum in Germany.
Kaminski becomes the seventh new arrival at Kenilworth Road this summer following promotion as the Hatters reshape the squad for a first Premier League campaign.
‘A lot of work has been done to get the deal, and that goalkeeper position, over the line,’ Luton boss Rob Edwards said on the club website.
‘Thomas not only brings us a really proactive level of goalkeeping, but also he’s an international footballer with Belgium so he brings that level of experience too.’
Kaminski will reunite with former Rovers team-mate Amari’i Bell at Kenilworth Road and is looking forward to the challenges ahead.
‘Knowing Luton’s story and playing against them, it’s a well organised team. You can see the togetherness on the pitch,’ he said. ‘I’m delighted to be here and looking forward to the opportunity.’
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Manchester City to retain the Premier League title while Luton Town go straight back down……
Manchester City to retain the Premier League title while Luton Town go straight back down… but which teams MISS out on the top four? Michael Owen reveals his 2023-24 predictions
Michael Owen has backed Manchester City to retain their Premier League crown and finish ahead of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.
The former star striker made his predictions ahead of the new campaign that kicks-off next Friday when newly-promoted Burnley welcome Pep Guardiola’s side to Turf Moor.
Owen, who claimed his sole Premier League title with Man United in 2011, reckoned Vincent Kompany’s team will manage to escape the drop and finish in 16th place.
While the other two promoted clubs, Luton Town and Sheffield United, are set for an immediate return to the Championship according to the 46-year-old’s predictions.
The two-time golden boot winner inserted Wolves into his final relegation spot, while he anticipates considerable improvement from Chelsea but not enough to regain a place in the top four.
City racked up 89 points last term as they cruised to a third successive league title and their fifth in six seasons.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal ended up five points adrift of the summit and Owen expects the Gunners to suffer the same fate this season, though he is optimistic about the response of one of his former clubs.
The 46-year-old spent eight years in the Liverpool first team after graduating from the academy and he backed Jurgen Klopp’s side to bounce back from their disappointing fifth place finish.
Owen opted to go for Man United in the final Champions League qualification spot ahead of Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea, Aston Villa and Newcastle, who the ex-speedster believes will find balance of domestic and European football a struggle.
Meanwhile, at the foot of the table Bournemouth, Burnley and Crystal Palace have been tipped to finish in the three spots above the drop zones.