Go for it Coleman – This 21-year-old Rangers midfielder is better than the current crop at Sunderland

Why David Bates Would Be A Good Signing For Sunderland

Sunderland, who are in desperate need of reinforcements to get them out of trouble, look set to complete a deal for Rangers centre-back David Bates this month and they may be able to land him on the cheap.

The former Raith Rovers youngster, who came to prominence when he was thrown into the side last season due to his side’s turmoil, is out of contract at the end of this season and that has alerted a number of clubs in England with Sunderland being on top of the list.

The Black Cats want the 21-year-old centre-back before the deadline and if the player agrees to move, Rangers are likely to go for the deal, given that the Glasgow club will only be entitled to a nominal compensation sum – as low as five figures perhaps.

As it happens, negotiations are going on between Bates’ representatives and those at Ibrox regarding a new deal for him there but with just a few months left on his contract and no deal signed as yet, the fear is that he would move on. The potential loss of Bates is not being taken gently by Rangers or their supporters. He was the man-of-the-match when the Light Blues played impressively in the Old Firm derby draw at Celtic Park.

Rangers are Bates’ boyhood team and he naturally would love to see his long-term future at Ibrox. So a contract extension is his ideal outcome but a formal offer from Sunderland would at least give him something to think about, especially since the Scottish Premiership giants have now signed Russell Martin on loan from Norwich.

Whether he goes at all is still very much in doubt but make no mistake, he would be an excellent signing for Chris Coleman’s Sunderland if a deal is completed. It’s hard to quantify talent and to know for certain whether a particular player will handle a different league but all we can say is that the also-rans in the Scottish Premiership are about on par with the League One clubs in England.

Sunderland are pretty close to being a League One club in terms of their quality but Bates is playing at a much higher level than that; holding his own place in the Rangers squad with some solid performances consistently. With that in mind, he surely has the quality to help Sunderland out and is definitely better than what they have now.