Sunderland Braced For Player Exit

Journalist Alan Nixon said Sunderland may lose under-21 standout Oli Bainbridge to League Two team Bradford City.

After rising through the ranks at the Academy of Light,

The young Black Cats player has made an impression in their junior system.

but his opportunities to play for the first squad have been few.

The left-back signed a two-year contract with Sunderland last summer.

but he has only made one appearance for the senior team, coming off the bench in their March 27 matchup against QPR.

The Bantams, led by Graham Alexander, apparently took notice of that and performed well toward the end of the season.

They had a fleeting chance to enter the play-offs with six out of seven victories.

and they intend to maintain that momentum in the upcoming campaign.

Tyreik Wright, a loanee, played well on the left for Alexander’s team in the second half of the season.

However, he is returning to Plymouth Argyle, so Lewis Richards, 22, has no real competition for the wide spot.

Bainbridge appears to be a good match; early in the season, Everton,

a Premier League team, showed interest in him after he was predicted to make the Black Cats’ starting lineup.

First-team chances remain limited, though, with Leo Hjelde capable on the left and Sunderland still having an option on Callum Styles.

This implies that the child may have the opportunity to depart and pursue senior football elsewhere.

Michael Beale’s disastrous term ended any hopes of Ipswich returning to the Premier League.

The Tractor Boys’ tale, however, shows that strong teams are capable of rising above prolonged hibernation and contending.

Something that followers of theirs would know all too well.

Bainbridge appears ready to make his senior football debut shortly.

Being a strong player, he will be motivated to demonstrate his abilities on the senior level.

It would appear likely that he would go on loan, allowing Sunderland to evaluate him in more senior settings.

The left-back might decide to stick around and wait to see what happens under a new manager.

Moving permanently to Bradford might be quite dangerous; although he is a great possibility right now,

His career could rapidly collapse if he slips between two divisions and struggles.

Here, a six-month loan stay makes the most sense.

He can then return to Sunderland during the winter window for an evaluation and, based on his performance, a new contract.

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