Bristol City goalkeeper Max O'Leary is on the verge of completing a season-long loan to Shrewsbury Town.
O'Leary enjoyed a breakout campaign last season, making 10 Championship appearances for the Robins as he deputised for the injured Niki Maenpaa and Frank Fielding, impressing with his shot-stopping.
However, with the signings of Daniel Bentley and Rene Gilmartin and retention of Maenpaa for an extra year, O'Leary remains the club's third-choice option.
Spending a season on the bench, making the odd appearance in the EFL Trophy or in the event of an injury emergency, could be detrimental to his overall development so head coach Lee Johnson wants him to spend a season away from the club .
Shrewsbury Town signed experienced Bury goalkeeper Joe Murphy earlier this week but will bring O'Leary in to compete with the 37-year-old and he has the opportunity for more game time that with City.
Shrews lost their No1 last year Steve Arnold to League Two Northampton while Joel Coleman has returned to parent club Huddersfield.
Johnson is keen to build on O'Leary's obvious shot-stopping qualities but also improve his leadership, goalkicking, command of his area, which can only be properly achieved through first-team minutes.
His previous experience on loan was at non-league Bath City and Solihull Moors where he made a combined 52 appearances.
Shrewsbury finished 18th in League One last season and are expected to be a safe mid-table side this term, albeit with outside aspirations for a play-off push.
The location of New Meadow also means Johnson, loans manager Brian Tinnion and the rest of the City staff can keep a close check on O'Leary to monitor his progress.
