Latics have sights on goalkeeper and midfield general

Sunderland goalkeeper Maksymilian Stryjek

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

ATHLETIC have reportedly got both a new goalkeeper and a midfield general in their sights.

Sunderland's Max Stryjek, a highly rated Poland under-21 international, is pushing for a loan move that could see him arrive at Athletic to solve the problem number one position for boss John Sheridan.

And there could be a season-long loan move too, for experienced Preston midfield man John Welsh. The 33-year-old, who missed the majority of last season with a torn calf muscle, is back fit again and would seem to fit the bill for Athletic as an organiser-in-chief.

Sheridan is keen to add both those remaining pieces of his jigsaw - plus a number two goalkeeper, with trialist Niklas Bolten apparently in contention - well before the opening Sky Bet League One clash at home to Oxford United on Saturday, August 5.

Athletic are in action tomorrow at home to a Manchester United XI (7.30pm kick-off) in the final warm-up game of the summer.

Stryjek (21) has seen the potential for first-team opportunities at the Stadium of Light restricted by the signing of Jason Steele from Blackburn.

Black Cats manager Simon Grayson is also targeting a move for trialist Robbin Ruiter and that could prove the key to Athletic's swoop.

"You need to carry good goalkeepers," Grayson told the Sunderland Echo recently. "If we get another in, with Robbin, that might allow Max to go out on loan."

Stryjek, who signed for Sunderland from MKS Polonia in 2013, played for the club against Rochdale in last season's Checkatrade Trophy and went on to help the under-23s reach the final of the Premier League International Cup against Porto. He was also in Poland's squad, albeit unused, for the European Under-21s Championship this summer.

Welsh returned to action for Preston in a friendly against Burnley last week, having been out of the game since tearing a calf muscle in a Championship clash against Brighton in October of last year.

The Scouser, who has spent the last five years at Deepdale after signing from Tranmere, suffered setbacks in his recovery but appears ready to resume a career that has brought with it close to 400 senior appearances.