Graham Alexander issues Bradford City transfer update

The players have been given some more time off after Monday’s testing before starting the proper work at Apperley Bridge next week.

And the Bantams boss would love to have another face joining them for that.

Alexander met with a potential loan recruit yesterday and is looking to strike a deal with him in the coming weeks. But another arrival could be in training before then.

“We’re speaking to his club,” he said. “It could be tomorrow, it could be a week’s time.

“We don’t hold the cards unfortunately.

“It’s one of those but we’d like to get him in before Monday if possible.

“It’s important at this time of year to get players in that you’ve identified for the majority of pre-season. It only benefits them and the team.

“Fingers crossed, we can get one in before next week. But it might take a little bit longer.

“Certainly by the time we go to Austria, I’d like to have added at least two players to the group.

“Unfortunately, I’m not in charge of that. It’s down to the clubs who hold their registration.”

Alexander told the Valley Parade fans forum on Tuesday night that City are looking to add “two or three players” – with at least a couple of those being loans.

Plymouth's Tyreik Wright remains on the radar after his second stint at the club last season.

The target Alexander has just held talks with should be with the group before they head for Obertraun on July 18 if a deal can be done.

Alexander added: “He’s going to do the first couple of weeks with his parent club.

“They’re then going to make the decision. If they see him going out on loan, we have a really good chance of getting him in.

“I thought it was important to go and sit with him and explain where we see him competing.”

Alexander wants his squad pretty much in place by the time they fly out to the Austrian training camp.

“It’s something we’ve changed from previous pre-season trips.

Head physio Dayle Avison tests new signing Aden Baldwin (Image: Thomas Gadd)

“In the past we’ve probably done them in the second week because it’s a good week to hit players hard.

“But sometimes you get to the season and there are five or six changes to your squad.

“We’ve changed our tack on that to get the trip later in pre-season and hopefully have 95 per cent of the squad in place, so they can all spend that week together.

“It’s not the be-all and end-all but ideally it would be great to have everyone starting the season with us on that trip.

“There’s a lot of tactical planning and fitness work in there. But there’s also the social aspect of getting to know your team-mates.

“Fingers crossed, we can have at least two of those three players in place by then.”

City are still looking to move on the likes of Vadaine Oliver and Kevin McDonald to make room in the squad and wage bill. But Alexander confirmed that is no nearer to happening as yet.

“It’s really quiet on that side of that.

“Obviously there are a couple of players aware that their futures probably lie elsewhere. But they are in training with us.

“That’s down to other clubs to make their moves on those guys as well. We’ll see how that progresses.”