Top goalkeepers whom East Bengal should target

East Bengal are undergoing yet another upheaval and are in need of a reliable shot-stopper.

East Bengal FC had a diminutive end to their 2022-23 season, finishing at ninth in the league table. Despite their Brazilian striker Cleiton Silva being tied on most league goals at the top, the Red & Gold Brigade could not prevail. That indicates how the former Bengaluru FC man pulled the club single-handedly and how badly the defence let him down.

Of course, the midfield and attack are responsible for the joint integrity of the squad but everything falters if the goalkeeper is not reliable. Now Kamaljit Singh rescued games on his own and even finished sixth on most saves with 54 to his name. But the Kolkata-based should look for someone even better and hopefully younger to reinforce the defence. Especially since Kamaljit is 27 and their backup keeper Pawan Kumar is 33.

Here are the top three goalkeepers whom East Bengal should target:

Samik Mitra

Out of the three names on this list, Mitra’s turnover was the most modest. The Chennaiyin FC graduate may be away from home but he enjoyed a decent campaign since starting out at the club. Coming to the last season, Mitra made a good 27 saves and kept two clean sheets.

Although Chennaiyin won or drew most matches even if they conceded, they weren’t completely foolproof. However, the shot-stopper’s 62.79% save percentage weighs up pretty well given he only played 10 matches. It indicates that he might need some polishing and isn’t the finished product East Bengal needs but can definitely work with. Under Kamaljit, Mitra can learn to command aerial battles while sharpening his reactions and starting off attacks through long balls.

His disciplinary record might also need some tending as he was booked thrice and it certainly doesn’t bode well for any side. 90% of times wherein the goalkeeper gets booked leads to a penalty. But Mitra’s most enviable strength is his 1v1 expertise which has seen him come out on top against the likes of Liston Colaco. That is of course, down to his immense frame, standing in at 1.88 metres as the tallest among all candidates on the list. He is also on a contract till 2024, but East Bengal must be swift in securing his signature if they plan to move ahead with him. 

Gurmeet Singh

The former Highlanders goal custodian is probably a brilliant option to take the number one shirt at the Kolkata-based club. Since his debut in 2018-19, Gurmeet has evolved into a spectacular shot-stopper. Moreover, he finished last season in second spot for the Golden Glove award at only 23 years of age.

The goalkeeper kept the joint second-most clean sheets (seven) alongside Mumbai City’s Phurba Lachenpa and Bengaluru FC veteran Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. In fact, he had the highest save percentage among the top five despite playing the least number of games among them. Gurmeet managed to get a staggering 82% save percentage from only 14 matches as he conceded only nine times.

That means he made a good 41 saves after facing 50 shots on target. With a near-perfect disciplinary record (just a solitary yellow), and a good distribution rate of 50% (passing accuracy), the goalkeeper is already a complete package. He displayed positive signs of leadership as he organised a defence that had just seen some salient players like Asish Rai depart.

Only two metres shorter than Samik Mitra, Gurmeet can dictate aerial battles in his own box, coming out on top more often than not. Even his contract situation requires an extension as his 2021 deal ties him to the club until 2024. East Bengal should ask around and try to keep tabs on this promising youngster who even got a call from the national team ahead of the Hero Intercontinental Cup.

Prabhsukhan Singh Gill

The 2021-22 ISL Golden Glove winner is tough to acquire given Ivan Vukomanovic sees him as a mainstay. Gill’s age and capabilities are perfect for any promising project but that also makes him an ideal candidate for East Bengal FC.

Prabhsukhan Gill's cat-like reflexes and fingertip saves (47 in 2021/22 and 40 in 2022-23) helped him break through to the first team and allowed him to top the proceedings with seven clean sheets. A portfolio that includes point-blank range saves will be alluring to clubs like East Bengal who have a leaky defence.

Gill is also a leader at the back and performs extremely well under pressure to command and organise his backline. In terms of boosting the defenders’ morale and capacity, he is the best among all other contenders. No wonder he had the best goalkeeping performance by a Kerala Blasters goalkeeper in the last five years.

Although the shot-stopper signed a contract extension till 2024, East Bengal are the favourites to acquire his services. The Red & Gold Brigade are going all-out for the talented keeper in this transfer window. His inclusion would quickly get them within inches of arch-rivals and current ISL Trophy-holders Mohun Bagan Super Giant.