Bradford City manager Mark Hughes is disappointed to see Tyreik Wright leave for Plymouth Argyle midway through an impressive spell on loan from Premier League giants Aston Villa, speaking to the Telegraph and Argus.
League One leaders Plymouth don’t tend to miss the mark when it comes to new recruits. Argyle certainly deserve the benefit of the doubt, then, after bringing in the Republic of Ireland U21 international from Aston Villa on an undisclosed fee this week.
Cork-born Wright spent four years as an Aston Villa player between 2018 and 2022. He scored four goals and set up two more during an impressive loan spell at Bradford in the first half of this season, and former Manchester United, Chelsea and Bayern Munich striker Hughes is understandably disappointed to see Wright snatched away from under his nose in the midst of a promotion charge.
Bradford City lose Aston Villa loanee Tyreik Wright to Plymouth Argyle
“I think he was very tempted (to stay),” explains Hughes, who’s Bradford side sit fifth in League Two. “If the water hadn’t been muddied by another club coming on the scene, there was a real possibility that he would have signed a permanent (deal).
“It’s very difficult to keep any deal totally under wraps. You realise there’s going to come a point where a decision has to be made. People are aware of it, so there’s more potential for it to fall by the wayside. Which was the case with Tyreik.
“In the end you have to accept the situation that was presented to him. The opportunity to go to a higher league is a big thing for a young player.”
Wright, who never made a senior appearance in Aston Villa colours, is likely to have big boots to fill at Plymouth. The Pilgrims lost star attacker Morgan Whittaker last week; parent club Swansea City re-calling arguably the most eye-catching creative talent in League One.
‘He’s a talented boy’
And Hughes admits he could not stand in Wright’s way; the one-time Salford and Colchester man offered the chance to showcase his talents on a bigger stage.
“You can ask the question that maybe you’ve got to be careful that if you do move, are you going to play week in, week out? But I sensed Tyreik was always going to back his own ability. Why wouldn’t he? He’s a talented boy,” Hughes adds.
“You can’t stand in people’s way and he wants to keep progressing his career. It wasn’t to be unfortunately.”
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