Bradford City are desperately hoping they’ll be conducting their summer transfer business as a League One club.
The Bantams are fighting to secure automatic promotion out of the fourth tier, having spent six seasons at the level following their League One relegation in the 2018/19 season.
Graham Alexander’s side have pushed on from their ninth-placed finish last season, after missing out on a play-off place by a single point last term.
As such, a hugely important summer transfer window awaits Bradford, regardless of whether they’re retooling for another crack at League Two promotion, or if they’re looking to bolster their chances of holding their own in League One.
Bradford City have big call to make regarding Andy Cook and Calum Kavanagh
Andy Cook has been a superb servant to Bradford City ever since first joining the club on loan from Mansfield Town in January 2021.
Since then, he’s hit double-figure goals in every single one of his four seasons as a permanent Bradford player, and has certainly proven he’s as deadly a marksman as they come in League Two.
However, now aged 34 and having been ruled out of the remainder of the season since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in January, there are question marks over what kind of version City will get upon his return – something which he’s certain will happen.
“I’m definitely going to put my number nine jersey back on. In March, he stated to BBC Radio Leeds, “I will definitely return.”
However, the Bantams may have found their goal-scoring heir apparent in 21-year-old Calum Kavanagh.
Cook’s absence over the second half of the season was well appreciated by the Republic of Ireland youth international, who is now comfortably in double figures as the season reaches its climax.
Therefore, it will be interesting to watch whether Bradford choose to trust Kavanagh to lead the line next season or if they rely on Cook’s health and performance when he recovers from his nasty injury.
