Two-year deal for midfield dynamo Korey

ACTION MAN . . . Korey Smith made a big impression while on loan at Boundary Park last season.

KOREY Smith is set to become a permanent addition to Athletic’s squad in the most eye-catching swoop of the summer so far.

The 22-year-old midfield dynamo was the unofficial first signing of Lee Johnson last term, arriving on loan a week before the manager’s appointment.

Free agent Smith underwent a medical yesterday, the Chronicle understands, and a two-year contract with Athletic is set to be finalised in the next couple of days.

Johnson will regard his capture as quite a coup, considering clubs from the Championship were said to be keen on a player who turned out 28 times to help Norwich gain promotion to the Premier League only three seasons ago. After a chase Johnson initially felt was unlikely to bear fruit, he won his man.

Smith joins Jonson Clarke-Harris, James Dayton and Sidney Schmeltz — who arrived at Boundary Park yesterday — as new captures. More signings are expected in the coming weeks.

Johnson confirmed he wants to bring in four and six new men, Smith being one of them, before the start of the season.

“A couple will be loans and the rest permanent deals,” Johnson said. “There is a lot going on.

“We have agreed loans, but until they are done, you can never be sure.”

Defence will be the immediate focus for Johnson. He has accepted Jean-Yves Mvoto’s exit, and with Cliff Byrne strongly linked with a move back to Scunthorpe, Athletic need defensive reinforcement.

“Loads of players want to come in on trial - and they aren’t bad names either,” said Johnson.

“But I want to guard against having too many trialists at once; you lose sight of the squad you have.”