Keiren Westwood has a ‘50-50’ chance of joining Shamrock Rovers, according to Stephen Bradley.
The Hoops boss today confirmed he is in talks with the former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper.
And if a deal is struck, Westwood, 38, will be more than a short-term signing at the League of Ireland champions.
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Rovers No 1 Alan Mannus - who turns 41 tomorrow - is out for the foreseeable future after breaking and dislocating a finger in the win over Derry City.
Back-up ‘keeper Leon Pohls has stepped into the team as cover but the Hoops are keen to bring in Westwood.
Capped 21 times between 2009 and 2017, he is currently unattached since leaving QPR last summer, but has been training with Crewe Alexandra.
Bradley said: “We spoke to him a few weeks back and we've had good conversations.
“We're just waiting to see as he has a few personal things at home that he’s looking after. All that needs to work for something to be done.
“Going forward we know it's Alan's last year and we need to plan for that and he's a keeper of real pedigree.
“Alan is obviously going to retire and we’ve been looking at five or six goalkeepers for the last year or so and Keiren is a top goalkeeper.
“But loads of things have to fall into place for that to be a possibility. It’s 50/50 at the moment.”
Ahead of tomorrow’s home clash with Drogheda United, Bradley continued: “He's unattached and in the short-term that's key.
“He has to be out-of-contract since January for them to be able to register for us now and play in the short term, long term that doesn't matter too much.
“Keiren has had offers from Scotland and the lower leagues in England in the last while, they haven't been quite right for him.
“A lot needs to fall into place for that to happen, but Stephen McPhail and the board have been working on it.”
According to Bradley, it’s still too early to know if Mannus will miss the start of Shamrock Rovers’ European campaign in July.
“Alan will be four weeks - from this week - until he sees the specialist again and then a decision will be made on where it is,” added the Hoops boss.
“It's all about how it sets. Right now, it's in a splint but it's about how the bones set, once the splint is off it's fairly straightforward.”
And pushed on Mannus’ availability for Europe, Bradley added: “There's nothing we can do, we just have to wait, there's no point in worrying about it.
“The surgeon and doctor said this was the time frame we were looking at, four weeks but more than likely he will be fine after that.”
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