Sunderland target David Bates starred for Rangers on Sunday as the club beat Ross County on the road from Ibrox.
Championship side Sunderland will surely make an offer for Rangers centre-back David Bates after the Ibrox academy product impressed at the heart of the Gers defence once again on Saturday.
The 21-year-old featured for the entire 90 minutes of the Gers’ 2-1 win over Ross County at the Global Energy Stadium as Graeme Murty earned another win to push the Light Blues back into second place in the Scottish Premiership table.
Looking assured with the ball at his feet, Bates has removed the necessity and panic from his game which previously saw him clear the ball long the moment any kind of pressure was applied.
Bates has also improved positionally, blocking a number of shots and crosses as he partnered new signing Russell Martin for a second successive match. His side would have kept a clean sheet, only for Martin to handle in the penalty area.
Sunderland will have been watching on if their reported interest is anything to go by, and Chris Coleman will surely be tempted into making a bid with three days to go in this month’s window.
The Ibrox academy product has just a matter of months before his contract ends in May, which has seen Sunderland become interested in the Auchenhowie product of late.
They could look to land the centre-back as part of a cut-price deal, or indeed secure Bates’ signature under the bosman ruling which would see Bates move down south on a free at end of his contract – a pre-contract agreement.
If Sunderland were unsure about moving for Bates, then Sunday’s excellent performance will convince them otherwise as the youngster showed just what he is capable with an expert display at the back.
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