Bristol City tracking Hearts goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald
HEARTS goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald has emerged as a possible target for Bristol City.
Robins manager Derek McInnes is in the market for a keeper to replace former England number one David James, who was released at the end of last season.
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Jamie MacDonald
His requirement is for an experienced keeper to offer genuine competition for first-choice Dean Gerken, who emerged from James' shadow to play in the final eight games of last season, helping City remain unbeaten during that period.
And The Post understands MacDonald, 26, features on the list of those goalkeepers who are being considered by McInnes.
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A member of the Hearts side that crushed arch-rivals Hibernian 5-1 in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park at the weekend, MacDonald is well known to City's manager, who was in charge at St Johnstone before moving south of the border last October.
But City may be hard-pressed to lure MacDonald to Ashton Gate. Born and bred in the Edinburgh area, the former Scotland Under-21 international is a lifelong Hearts fan and signed a new two-year deal in January.
That deal also carries the option of a year's extension, potentially tying the highly-regarded keeper to Tynecastle until 2015.
Having been forced to play second fiddle to Steve Banks, Janos Balogh and, more recently, Marian Kello since making his debut against Rangers at Ibrox in August 2008, MacDonald is now close to achieving his ambition of establishing himself as the club's number one keeper.
Slovakian stopper Kello is expected to leave Hearts when his contract expires at the end of the month, leaving the way clear for MacDonald, who made 19 appearances in the season just finished, the majority of them after agreeing a new deal at the start of the year.
And Hearts are also able to offer the prospect of Europa League football following Saturday's Scottish Cup final triumph.
But the Scottish Premier League club are under pressure to cut costs and balance the books and may be tempted should City firm up their interest with a formal offer.
The npower Championship could also prove an attractive proposition for MacDonald, who could conceivably earn more money and further his game in England.
Meanwhile, former City keeper James says he wants to play on after failing to land a new contract at Ashton Gate.
The 41-year-old was among eight players told they had no future at the club when McInnes released his retained list earlier this month.
James made over 80 appearances during his two seasons with the Robins following his arrival from Portsmouth and has no plans to retire just yet.
"I'm still looking to play next season. I've had a few little niggles, but I still feel great," said James.
"In the meantime, I've been doing my B-level coaching badges – hopefully I will be able to complete my UEFA Pro-Licence, eventually with a view to moving into management."
Comments
by AussieGeorge
Tuesday, May 22 2012, 11:52PM
“Adelaide United have a good keeper in Eugene Galekovic who has an impressive record.
Maybe it could be worthwhile tempting some-one like that to City.
He has played as a socceroo and is well regarded.
Personal Honours:
A-League Goalkeeper of the Year: 2008-2009, 2009-2010
Adelaide United Club Champion: 2008-2009, 2009-2010
Adelaide United Player's Player of the Year: 2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2011–12”
by piledriver
Tuesday, May 22 2012, 4:11PM
“@ BinRelegated
My overarching point was that it's all very well setting a strategy and something quite different to deliver it.
In terms of last years targets, Millen's were excellent-Regretfully, none of the players could be attracted due to better offers in most cases from Prem, Ex Prem Teams.
Setting the bar at the right height, particualry with FFP, is going to be very difficult.”
by BinRelegated
Tuesday, May 22 2012, 2:42PM
“@Piledriver "the strategy will be to pick up OOC players." that exactly what I was saying, i heard we were after out of contract Hearts keeper Kello because thats more likely than paying hard cash for one of their keepers so may be BEP have got something slightly wrong here.”
by piledriver
Tuesday, May 22 2012, 2:14PM
“Signing a keeper will be the easiest signing of all and, like most signings, the strategy will be to pick up OOC players.
That being said, Millen tried that last close season and failed miserably, albeit the players he tried to get have all done really well at a higher or better level.”
by Vonner
Tuesday, May 22 2012, 12:52PM
“Yawn - City in possible swoop for another Scottish Prem bloke nobody has heard of....”
by BinRelegated
Tuesday, May 22 2012, 10:52AM
“I heard we were after Kello, which seems much more likely to me!”
by RedNemesis1
Tuesday, May 22 2012, 8:58AM
“Meanwhile.... EP can exclusively reveal that Derek McInnes has NOT been ruled out of the vacant manager's position at Liverpool FC”
by Redrocky
Tuesday, May 22 2012, 8:29AM
“All papers are full of these stories!
Keeps people buying the paper.”
by harryreg_uk
Tuesday, May 22 2012, 7:55AM
“at last not a "may", "could", "might" in the title then ruined by "possible target" in the text - well done EP!
Is there any player we may/might/could/possibly NOT go for?”