DONS’ injury hit midfield looks set to be strengthened with the signing of Ryan Harley on loan from Brighton.
The 27-year-old has been out of favour at the Amex Stadium this season, and was in Milton Keynes on Saturday to watch Dons lose 3-2 to Coventry City, as well as thrash out a deal with Dons boss Karl Robinson about a potential move.
And the Citizen understands that the deal was set to go through on Monday to allow Harley to be included in the squad to face Notts County at Meadow Lane on New Year’s Day.
The defeat to Coventry, Dons’ third in four games, saw them slip out of the play-off places to seventh in League 1 – a far cry from where they expected to be in early 2013.
Robinson’s side have looked considerably more vulnerable in midfield with the long-term losses of Stephen Gleeson and Luke Chadwick, both sidelined for around three months through injury. And it is that vulnerability that has prompted the manager to move for Harley.
“We look weak in the centre at the moment,” he said after Saturday’s defeat. “It’s hard when you’ve only got players who haven’t played a lot this season.
“It’s well documented that Ryan Harley is here, and he was one of the best players in this league a few years ago. He’s an exceptional talent.
“We can’t confirm the deal, but we’re in talks and the two clubs are talking and doing the best to make it happen, and he wants to be here.
“Hopefully we’ll have him for the Notts County game.”
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