Bristol City goalkeeper Max O’Leary is a loan target for League One side MK Dons, Bristol Live understands, as the Robins close in on the signing of free agent Stefan Bajic.
O’Leary’s future appears uncertain with France Under-21 keeper Bajic set to be confirmed as City’s fourth summer signing after leaving Ligue 2 side Pau at the end of last season.
Although the 20-year-old agreed terms several weeks ago, work permit and visa requirements have delayed his move to Bristol. But Bajic’s arrival is likely to coincide with the loan departure of O’Leary, who served as Dan Bentley’s No2 last season.
MK Dons have emerged as a likely destination for the 25-year-old with both their goalkeepers from last season having returned to their parent clubs following the end of their loan agreements. Although they are not the only League One club to enquire about his availability this summer.
The Dons split duties between Andy Fisher, on hire from Swansea City for the first half of the season, and then Chelsea’s Jamie Cumming thereafter, with both making 23 starts in League One as Liam Manning’s side reached the play-offs.
They do have Argentine Franco Ravizzioli and 17-year-old prospect Ronnie Sandford, who was included in some matchday squads last season, on the books but, if a loan move is successful, O’Leary could be their No1 for the forthcoming campaign.
The City academy product made nine Championship appearances for the Robins last season after replacing Bentley at the start of 2022 and although he impressed with his distribution, Nigel Pearson’s side shipped a troubling number of goals during that spell, averaging 2.55 per game.
O’Leary’s save percentage was just 48.6 per cent compared to Bentley’s 70.3 over the course of the season. One metric that has likely helped form Pearson’s view of what he wants his goalkeeper department to look like for next season.
Bajic is completely untested outside of France but has strong pedigree at youth-term level and was a highly-rated prospect at Saint-Etienne in his teens. He will join Harvey Wiles-Richards and Will Buse, who signed a new one-year contract earlier this summer, as understudies to Bentley.
O’Leary’s contract at Ashton Gate expires next summer but the club do hold a one-year option which gives them considerable flexibility and if the 25-year-old is successful at Stadium MK, opens up the possibility of a permanent transfer next summer, should Pearson not wish to retain him.
