Norwich City confirm Jake Kean deal
Survival will naturally be a significant ambition for Norwich City - but its not the target. Picture: Antony Kelly - Credit: Archant
Norwich City have confirmed the signing of former Blackburn keeper Jake Kean, who arrives on a two-year deal to become Alex Neil's fifth summer addition.
Neil made it clear at Colney on Friday Kean was on his target list, and the 24-year-old will provide back-up to John Ruddy and Declan Rudd with Remi Matthews currently on loan at League One Burton.
Neil revealed goalkeeping coach Dean Kiely had been a key player in his decision to recruit Kean.
'Jake is a good, up-and-coming goalkeeper,' he said. 'We obviously have Declan Rudd here as our number two goalkeeper, and we've sent Remi Matthews out on loan to get match experience, which I think is important for him.
'We needed to make sure we had cover for the goalkeeping position and we wanted to bring in someone who could push Declan. Having spoken to Dean Kiely, we decided that Jake was someone who fits the bill. A few years ago he was spoken of in the same terms as goalkeepers like Jack Butland who have gone on to become important first team keepers.
'Jake has maybe just lost his way a little but we are hoping to give him the platform here to go on and reach those heights again.'
Kean, speaking to the club's official site, revealed he turned down interest elsewhere to link up with the Canaries.
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'I had other offers, but as soon as I knew Norwich were interested, I could have just switched off my phone because I wasn't going to entertain anything else,' he said. 'A couple of years ago I was flying high but unfortunately my knee injury has made it quite a difficult road to get back to where I was.
'I feel that with the support Alex Neil and Dean Kiely have shown me here already, I'm not going to be far away from getting back to that level.'
Kean joins Robbie Brady, Andre Wisdom, Youssouf Mulumbu at Carrow Road this summer along with a permanent deal for Graham Dorrans.