Luton Town must fend off Ipswich Town so Rob Edwards can launch promotion crusade: View | OneFootball

The Hatters must keep hold of one player amid links with a move to Portman Road

It has arguably been something of a mixed start to the summer transfer window for Luton Town.

Despite their relegation from the Premier League back to the Championship at the end of last season, they have secured the services of manager Rob Edwards on a new long-term contract.

Things have been quieter in the early stages of the transfer window, with the Hatters yet to make a first-team signing.

Meanwhile, Ross Barkley is the only member of the first-team squad at Kenilworth Road to have moved on so far, returning to the top-flight with Aston Villa.

However, it appears one other key figure from last season who Luton Town may have to respond to interest in this summer, is Thomas Kaminski.

Ipswich Town keen on Luton Town goalkeeper

Kaminski only made the move to Kenilworth Road last summer, when he joined the Hatters from Blackburn Rovers.

However, it seems there is a possibility that he could now be on the move again in the current transfer window.

According to recent reports, newly promoted Premier League side Ipswich Town are now interested in a potential move to sign Kaminski as they prepare for their return to the top-flight.

The Belgian is apparently seen as a potential alternative target to Brighton's Carl Rushworth, with the Tractor Boys in need of a goalkeeper, following Vaclav Hladky's exit at the end of his contract.

But despite that, there is an argument to be made that if Edwards wants to be guiding Luton straight back to the top-flight this season, he must insist the club do not let Kaminski go, regardless of this interest from Portman Road.

Thomas Kaminski will be key to the Hatters' promotion push

In spite of the struggles that Luton endured in the Premier League last season, conceding the second-highest number of goals in the division, Kaminski enjoyed a strong individual campaign.

It was rare to see the Belgium international at fault for a goal, and instead, he would often make a string of excellent saves to help keep the score down and his team in games for longer.

As a result, given the Hatters' defence should be able to cope with attacks more efficiently following the drop down a level, having a goalkeeper as solid as Kaminski behind them, would make them a hard team to score past.

That in turn, would provide Edwards with a foundation from which he could build forwards with this Luton side.

If Kaminski and his defence are rarely conceding, as you would expect with a goalkeeper who performed so well in a higher division last season, if the attack can take their chances, it puts them in a strong position to pick up the results they need to secure an immediate promotion.

Indeed, given the fact that 31-year-old already has plenty of experience of the Championship from his three years with Blackburn, there should be no concerns about him adapting to the differences in nature of the two divisions.

Beyond that, with Kaminski having only joined last season, there ought to be plenty of time remaining on his contract, which means they should not be under pressure to sell him this summer.

It is worth noting that with the Hatters' other senior goalkeeper, Tim Krul being linked with a move away in the current window - ironically to Kaminski's former club Blackburn - losing both options would put a lot of pressure on Luton to strengthen their goalkeeping department in the market.

That may be something they want to avoid, since it could divert funds away from other areas of the squad that need to be strengthened, to ensure Edwards has the options there as well, to guide the club back to the Premier League.

So with all that in mind, it seems it could be vital that Luton Town do not allow Kaminski to return to the Premier League this summer, if they want the club to do so this time next year.