Matthew Cox: Premier League rivals eye move for Brentford keeper as contract talks planned | OneFootball

Bees face fight to hold on to highly-rated shot stopper

Brentford goalkeeper Matthew Cox is attracting interest from clubs in the Premier League and Europe after impressing on loan at Shrewsbury Town.

Cox fell down the pecking order at Brentford at the start of this season following the arrival of Caoimhin Kelleher from Liverpool, and he left on loan in search of regular game time in January.

Brentford also have Iceland international Hakon Valdimarsson and Ellery Balcombe on their books.

The 22-year-old joined League Two Shrewsbury on loan until the end of the season, and has cemented his place as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper.

The England Under-21 international has kept three clean sheets in nine appearances for Shrewsbury, who sit 17th in the League Two table.

Cox has previously spent time with at Bristol Rovers, but his loan spell at Crawley Town was cut short last season after he tore his hamstring.

After impressing at Shrewsbury, Cox now feels he is ready to test himself at a higher level, whether in England or abroad.

Cox is under contract at Brentford until 2028, having signed a six-year contract in July 2022, but this summer is considered a crucial period in the young shot-stopper’s career.

All options remain on the table for Cox, but his priority is to find regular game time ahead of next season.

Brentford currently sit seventh in the Premier League table and are in the hunt for European football qualification under manager Keith Andrews, who recently signed a new long-term contract.