Bradford City boss Gary Bowyer was in attendance as our Under 23s lost to Everton on Wednesday night, and the Chronicle believe a move to the Northern Commercials Stadium is now on the cards for academy star Matthew Longstaff.
The Bantams are thought to be the side leading the charge to take the 19-year-old holding midfielder on loan for next season, with Bowyer keen to add Longstaff to his options as he prepares to tackle League Two.
Bradford struggled excessively in League One this term, and were consigned to relegation nine-points from safety. Since the Football League season drew to a close, the West Yorkshire outfit have also released eleven players – including eight senior options.
If Longstaff were to now move to the Northern Commercials Stadium on loan next season, he would be following in the footsteps of his older brother, Sean, by playing under Bowyer, as the retired full-back had been in charge at Blackpool while the now first-team academy graduate plied his trade at Bloomfield Road.
Much like with Sean, the club are said to be keen for Longstaff to have a stint away from Tyneside, having featured heavily under Ben Dawson on route to the PL Cup Final and in the Premier League 2 this season, but without yet reaching a standard where he would be an option for the senior squad.
Bradford are not the only possible destination for the 7-goal prospect (one scored, six assists), though, with the Chronicle also noting that Swindon Town have been keeping track of his progress in recent times, and are expected to offer Longstaff first-team action in League Two next season.