With Kieren Westwood in talks with Sunderland about a possible move to The Premiership, Coventry City are likely to make a move for Scunthorpe shot stopper Joe Murphy.
City boss Andy Thorn can't begin to find a replacement for Westwood until he knows definitely he will not be renewing his contract, but as Westwood has indicated he wants top fight football to further his international career, it is ever increasingly likely that he will be leaving Coventry City in the very near future.
The most likely replacement for Westwood is fellow Irish international Joe Murphy. Apart from both being capped Irish internationals, they both have the same agent and both are out of contract in the summer.
Murphy has told Scunthorpe, who were relegated to from The Championship, he won't be renewing his contract with The Iron as he wants to play in The Championship.
Sunderland are vying with Leicester City for the signature of Westwood and while The Black Cats can offer Premier League football, they can't offer him regular first team football, especially when Craig Gordon is fit again, but at The Foxes he would be the number one choice goalkeeper.
Everton and Manchester City have also been mentioned as being interested in signing the 26 year old Westwood.
Once Westwood has told Andy Thorn he is definitely leaving Coventry City, he will make a move for Murphy, who is available on a free transfer, by offering him an instant return to The Championship by giving him the number one shirt at City.
Coventry City have long been linked with the 29 year old Murphy and Thorn is known to be a big fan of the twice capped Irish international 'keeper. Goalkeeping coach and Coventry City legend Steve Ogrizovic has watched Murphy on many occasions to monitor his progress.
Murphy has made 227 appearances for Scunthorpe and won the Golden Glove award for keeping the most clean sheets in his first season at Glandford Park in 2006.
He began his professional career at Tranmere where he broke the record for being the youngest goalkeeper to play at Wembley in the League Cup final against Leicester in 2000 when he was 18.
He signed for West Bromwich Albion in 2002, but only made 6 appearances for The Baggies, but he did he save a Michael Owen penalty at Anfield on his Premier League debut.
Loan spells at Wallsall and Sunderland followed before his move to Scunthorpe in 2006 where he has been ever since.
Westwood joined Coventry City in 2008 for £750,000 plus a sell on clause, from Carlisle United, but as he is likely to leave on a Bosman free transfer Carlisle will miss out on any much needed funds.