Young's Future Uncertain as Transfer Deadline Looms

With just two days remaining before the transfer window closes, the future of Bradford City striker Jake Young remains unclear.

Fleetwood Town, a fellow League Two club, submitted an offer for Young last Friday morning, which was accepted by the Bantams. The decision now lies with Young, who must decide whether to join the Cod Army.

A report on X, formerly known as Twitter, earlier today suggested that Young was undergoing a medical with the Lancashire side. However, Bradford manager Mark Alexander insisted this afternoon that the situation remains unchanged.

“I haven’t received any different information or anything concrete,” he stated. “The scenario is still the same as it was. I haven’t spoken to Jake this week about it because I don’t think there’s anything to say on my side. We’ve just got to wait for the transfer window to close and see what’s happened in between this point and that.”

Fleetwood are currently the only club known to be pursuing Young, although the possibility of a late bid from another club remains as the clock ticks down to Friday's 11pm deadline.

Interest in Young from League One clubs has cooled, with Stevenage and Crawley, who were both keen earlier in the summer, understood to have moved on. Wigan and Barnsley also decided not to pursue the striker further.

Young is still contracted to Bradford for another year, having signed from Forest Green in 2022. The club also has an option to extend his contract for another season.

Asked if he believes Young is definitely leaving, Alexander replied: “I really don’t know. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if either happens – whether he stays here or he leaves. I’ve got a complete open mind. My focus right now is on the players who are going to help us compete and try to beat Grimsby on Saturday. I’ll deal with the other stuff but at the moment none of that has happened.”

Young appeared as a substitute against Grimsby in the Carabao Cup 16 days ago but has not been included in the squad for Bradford's two league matches since. Alexander indicated that the speculation surrounding Young's future has affected his performance.

"I just want the best version of any player," he explained. "If a player isn’t the best version of himself because of different factors, then my idea of him is going to differ. I’m not blind to how people act, train, play, behave. It’s not just blind affection. There’s a professional outlook where I see whether that player is engaged, motivated and can help Bradford City win. Those are the questions I ask about each individual. If I think the answer to one of those is no, obviously my opinion of that player will change. It’s down to the players whether they are all-in or half-in. We can’t afford half-in."

The next few days will reveal whether Young remains at Valley Parade or embarks on a new chapter at Fleetwood. The decision will undoubtedly impact Bradford's season as they strive for success in League Two.