7 Goalkeepers Who Should Be Targets for the Premier League's Top 7 This Summer

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Andrew Headspeath06 APR 2017

Number one is a problem position for many of the Premier League's top clubs. 

Manchester United and Chelsea may boast two of the finest in the game, with David de Gea and Thibaut Courtois between their respective sticks, but both are apparently summer transfer targets for bottomless talent hoarders Real Madrid.

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Liverpool, Everton and Manchester City all look short of a top shot stopper, while Petr Cech at Arsenal is no longer the force he once was.

Here's seven options from across Europe who should be on the transfer wish lists of the Premier League's biggest clubs this summer...

7. Timo Horn (FC Köln)

23-year-old Horn was Köln's Player of the Season in 2016, after keeping eight clean sheets to help his side achieve a top half finish.

Yet another talented German goalkeeper, Horn has yet to win a senior cap for his country but won the silver medal with the Olympic squad last summer in Rio de Janeiro.

However, the problems with Liverpool's summer signing Loris Karius adapting to the Premier League, and a perceived weakness for dealing with crosses, may prevent top clubs gambling on a move for another young Bundesliga keeper just yet. 

6. Fernando Pacheco (Alaves)

The Alaves stopper came through the ranks at Real Madrid but entered the pantheon of those discarded in favour of more expensive options.

A move to Alaves followed, where the 24-year-old played almost every game as the Basques achieved promotion back to Spain's top tier.

The former Spain U21 has been something of revelation this season, keeping nine clean sheets as Alaves have defied expectations to sit a respectable 11th in the league so far.

Rumour has it Real Madrid have kept a back-back clause in Pacheco's contract as they monitor his progress.

5. Samir Handanovic (Internazionale)

One of the most experienced and highly-regarded goalkeepers in Europe has amazingly never won a senior trophy.

32-year-old Handanovic has impressed at Inter, and before at Udinese, for around a decade and just may be tempted by Premier League money and a chance at trophies this summer, despite his recent assertions that he wants to stay in Milan.

The Slovenian international, who has twice won Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year, is known for his sharp reflexes, having saved the second-most penalties in Serie A history - 22.

4. Lukas Hradecky (Eintracht Frankfurt)

The Czechoslovakia-born Finnish national keeper has already had an interesting career at the age of 27.

Hradecky had a trial at Man Utd in 2010, after Tom Heaton's departure, but reportedly turned down the Red Devils to continue playing first team football in Denmark with Esbjerg and Brondby.

After finally moving to one of Europe's bigger leagues in 2015, with a transfer to Frankfurt, Hradecky has established himself as one of the Bundesliga's finest shot stoppers.

Linked previously with Swansea, Hradecky's organisational skills have been crucial in ensuring Frankfurt's fine defensive record this season.

3. Jordan Pickford (Sunderland)

Jordan Pickford has been just about the one shining light in an unbelievably bleak season for Sunderland.

Only Tom Heaton has made more saves this campaign, while perhaps to be expected, Pickford boasts the best saves to game ratio in the Premier League.

Pickford had to wade through loans at Darlington, Alfreton, Burton Albion, Carlisle, Bradford and Preston North End before making the number one spot his own at the Stadium of Light. A bright future beckons for the 23-year-old, who was part of England's 2016 Toulon tournament winning team and earned his first senior call up last October.

2. Ederson Moraes (Benfica)

Ederson Moraes is a most-wanted man.

The young Brazilian has been linked not only with most of England's usual suspects, but also Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Still only 23, Ederson won the Primeira Liga last season and has kept 14 clean sheets this campaign, as Benfica close in on another title. 

He displaced fellow Brazilian Julio Cesar for the number one spot at club level, while strong performances in the Champions League and ability as a modern 'sweeper keeper' have further accentuated his standing, and given rise to paper talk regarding a move.

1. Sergio Rico (Sevilla)

Six foot five and as imposing as that would suggest, the Andalusian stopper rose the the ranks at his local club to become the undisputed number one at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium.

A two-time Europa League winner, 23-year-old Rico made his international debut last June in a friendly against South Korea, and was an unused sub for Spain's underwhelming Euro 2016 campaign.

Rico has a reputation as one of his country's finest shot stoppers and has already hit 100 saves for the season in La Liga, while only Real Betis' Antonio Adan has saved more from outside the area.