By Matt Storey
Young goalkeeper Ivan Lucic has completed his move to Bristol City from German giants Bayern Munich for an undisclosed fee.
Lucic has been on trial at Ashton Gate and has put pen to paper on a two-year deal, with the option of extending it for a further year.
The 6ft 4in Austrian has represented his country at youth international level but Johnson does not expect him to challenge Richard O'Donnell and Frankie Fielding for the number one spot just yet.
The 21-year-old is expected to be sent out on loan to gain more experience of first team football but not before spending a couple of weeks working on his fitness in Bristol.
“Ivan needs a good couple of weeks' training and then he will be ready to go out on loan,” explained Johnson.
“He has not trained much and we will have to get his body fat down and get him properly fit before we decide where to send him.
“He then needs 20 to 40 games to gain some experience and show that he is more than just a training goalie.
“The hope is that he will get that experience elsewhere and then come back to us and be ready to challenge for a first team place.”
Lucic spent two years at Bayern Munich, where he played for their second team and trained alongside German captain Manuel Neuer and it was this pedigree that convinced Johnson to take on the youngster.
“I felt it was worth taking a punt on someone who was only 21, but already 6ft 4in and very athletic.
“He is one for the future, a work in progress if you like, and we have signed him for his long-term potential. Ivan is not ready to be a first team goalkeeper yet, but he has the potential to be that in the future.”
