TT BLOG

Joe Uglow – @joe_ugs

Joe delves into his next transfer speculation piece for 2026!

Jimmy Ball is ready to shake up the Torquay United squad and make us a tougher proposition for 2026/27, let’s have a look at some of the keepers who could be on his radar in the coming weeks!

LUKE MCGEE

One of Jimmy Ball’s most important pieces of recruitment this summer will be his No.1 goalkeeper. Zak Baker has come in in what you’d think is an understudy position, given his experience in the game so far, and someone Jimmy might look to hand the No.1 shirt to is Luke McGee. Their paths would have crossed in 2020/2021 at Forest Green and McGee has played a lot of his football in the South. He’s spent the last three years at Tranmere but this season has found himself in the Number Two role. He’s still under contract at Tranmere but at the age of 30 he may want to get back playing week in week out and a drop down the divisions may suit him.

STATS – POSITION: GOALKEEPER – DOB: 02/09/95 – L2 STATS 25/26: APPEARANCES 5, CLEAN SHEETS 2, YELLOW/RED CARDS 1/0

MARKO MAROSI

The 32 year old finds himself on the transfer list at Port Vale so will actively be looking to find a new club this summer. Marosi’s career has a “has gloves and will travel” feel to it and the Slovakian spent four months at Plymouth Argyle in 2024 without making an appearance. It’s only really Shrewsbury where he cemented himself as a number one for any significant period but he did make 16 appearances in League Two last season on loan at Tranmere Rovers, ironically covering an injury to Luke McGee.

STATS – POSITION: GOALKEEPER – DOB: 20/10/93 – L2 STATS 25/26: APPEARANCES 16, CLEAN SHEETS 2, YELLOW/RED CARDS 2/0

SHAUN MACDONALD

Seems to be an annual ritual that ex-gull Shaun Mac is linked with a return. Still living in Torbay after settling in the area, Shaun has had to settle for numerous No.2 roles in the past few years at Exeter city & Newport County. He was a surprising inclusion in Newport’s retained list, but if he does want to have one last go at being a number one then a move to TQ1 may suit all parties.

STATS – POSITION: GOALKEEPER – DOB: 20/10/96 – L2 STATS 25/26: APPEARANCES 0, CLEAN SHEETS 0, YELLOW/RED CARDS 0/0

MICHAEL JOHNSON

Probably the stand out keeper in the National League South, the Hemel stopper managed 19 clean sheets last season as the Tudors made it into the Play-offs. He’s predominantly played his football around Hertfordshire but at the age of 32 the lure to play a season or two in front of the Plainmoor crowd may be a pull for the out of contract keeper. Many expected him to follow Lee Allinson to Dagenham & Redbridge but the signing of Nathan Ashmore at Daggers looks to have closed that door, and does that open up one at Plainmoor?

STATS – POSITION: GOALKEEPER – DOB: 28/10/93 – NLS STATS 25/26: APPEARANCES 45, CLEAN SHEETS 19, YELLOW/RED CARDS 0/0

JOSH JEFFRIES

The Southampton U21 keeper spent half of last season on loan at Worthing and had previously enjoyed spells at both Eastleigh and Totton. The impressive young Stopper has one more year left to run on his contract at the Saints, and a full season at a leading NLS side may be the next step of his progression. Goalkeeper loans from premier league and championship clubs paid dividends for the two promoted sides last season; Worthing & Hornchurch so this could be a route that Jimmy Ball goes down this summer too.

STATS – POSITION: GOALKEEPER – DOB: 10/03/05– NLS STATS 25/26: APPEARANCES 24, CLEAN SHEETS 6, YELLOW/RED CARDS 0/0