In with a shout

EYE FOR GOAL... Cody McDonald scored 26 times on loan at Gillingham last season. Picture courtesy Kent Messanger.

ATHLETIC believe they are in with a chance of landing striker Cody McDonald — on a permanent deal.

Manager Paul Dickov confirmed that initial discussions have taken place over a player whose 26 goals while on loan at Gillingham in npower League Two last season have made him a hot property.

While competition for McDonald’s signature is fierce, Dickov says those talks have progressed positively, with the Scot emphasising to the player how Athletic’s brand of play would suit the 25-year-old.

One of the main stumbling blocks could be the fee that McDonald’s parent club Norwich City would seek to release him from his contract with the newly-promoted Premier League club, which expires in the summer of 2012.

Should an agreement be struck — possibly by way of a player-swap, given Athletic's tight finances — the capture of such a prolific striker would give the club a massive lift ahead of the new season.

“Cody is a player we have spoken to and we will possibly try to get something done,” said the Athletic boss.

“We watched him a number of times last season and because of the volume of goals that he scored, there are a lot of clubs that are in for him.

“We want to see if a deal is possible with Norwich. Cody is someone who just wants to play football and he knows that we are a side that plays the right way and also a side that will create chances.”

A proven goalscorer is Dickov's number one priority this summer and while McDonald is the main target, other irons are in the fire.

One of those is out-of-contract Crewe Alexandra striker Clayton Donaldson, who topped the scoring charts in League Two last term with 29 goals in 48 appearances.

And Dickov again confirmed that talks with the player have taken place.

One player whom Dickov has denied an interest in is Liam Dickinson, who is a free agent after being released by Barnsley.