IPSWICH TOWN: The Blues are in pole position to sign goalkeeper Marton Fulop from Sunderland despite the Premier League club wanting over �1million for the Hungarian international.

The 27-year-old wants to play first team football, and this is why he has turned down two previous offers - one from a Premier League club and one from abroad.

He sees the opportunity of becoming number one at Portman Road having impressed manager Roy Keane during their time together at the Stadium of Light.

Ipswich have yet to make an official bid with Black Cats manager Steve Bruce saying: “I believe there has been interest from Ipswich Town.

“But as things stand I don’t think at this stage they have submitted a firm bid.”

Fulop, who at 6ft 5in is one of the tallest keepers in the country, has no future at Sunderland and has been left behind with the reserves while the first team squad are on a tour to Portugal.

Although Craig Gordon will miss the start of the season through injury, new signing Simon Mignolet plus Trevor Carson have been taken to Portugal.

Gordon was named number one by Bruce last season, and Fulop was allowed to end the campaign on loan at Manchester City.

Bruce is after �1.5million for a player whose contract runs out in 2011. And he is likely to insist on at least �1million despite being keen to off load a player - like striker David Healy - he sees as surplus to requirements.

Fulop wants to improve his chances of playing international football by playing regular first team football in 2010/11 - and at the moment Ipswich look the best bet for him to achieve this.

Brian Murphy has done little wrong since joining Town from Irish club Bohemians last January and he was outstanding against PSV Eindhoven last weekend.

Arran Lee-Barrett also did not let Town down when he featured for two months last term, but Keane has always advocated his desire to have three experienced keepers on his books.

It was Keane who signed Fulop from Tottenham in January 2007 in a swap deal that saw former England Under-21 keeper Ben Alnwick move to White Hart Lane from the north east.

Keane has already signed Grant Leadbitter, Carlos Edwards and Conor Hourihane from his former club and taken Jack Colback, Daryl Murphy and Healy on loan.

Hourihane has a chance to see his career blossom after being hailed a ‘boy wonder’ when Keane signed the Cork youngster during his time in charge at Sunderland.

It is felt that a move away from the Black Cats was best for the midfielder’s prospects, and he is not considered in the north east to have the potential that Colback has despite being a regular in the second team last season.