David Bates staying at Rangers makes much more sense than seeking Sunderland move

Follow us on Google Discover

Glasgow Rangers defender David Bates has been linked with the Ibrox exit this month.

According to a recent report from the Daily Record, David Bates’ Rangers future appears to be somewhat uncertain with Sunderland interested in signing the 21-year-old in the summer.

As things stand, Bates is out of contract at the end of the season, and the Record suggests that the Black Cats could look to make a move that, if successful, could cost Chris Coleman’s side just a five-figure compensation fee.

But given the role that Bates is currently enjoying at Rangers and the direction that Sunderland appear to be potentially heading in, there should surely be an option that the young centre-back quite clearly prefers – and that is staying exactly where he is.

Under Graeme Murty, the former Raith Rovers man is playing fairly regularly, and is often excelling when he gets the chance. He was brilliant in the Old Firm stalemate just before the winter break, and it appears that he is starting to get the amount of game-time that the young defender could only dream of while he was coming through the ranks at Raith.

Meanwhile, Sunderland are in serious trouble in the Championship. They are currently situated in the bottom three in the second tier, and – given the business that they have been able to do in the last couple of windows – it may not be out of the question for it to get worse for the long-suffering Black Cats supporters before there are any signs that it is going to get any better.

Therefore, if the two teams put the kind of terms on the table that leaves Bates with a decision to make, he should surely have absolutely no hesitation in looking to stay exactly where he is right now.