'We love him' - Sunderland youngster on South Shields transfer radar after successful loan deal
Sunderland youngster Ollie Bainbridge has enjoyed a productive loan spell with National League North neighbours South Shields.
South Shields remain keen on a permanent deal for Sunderland youngster Ollie Bainbridge as he approaches the final week of his loan deal with the National League North club.
The Academy of Light product is yet to make a senior appearance for the Black Cats despite being named in a first-team squad on five occasions over the last two years - but he did enjoy a maiden venture into the senior game when he made nine appearances during a loan stint with Scottish club Kilmarnock during the first half of the 2024/25 season. The 21-year-old wing-back joined South Shields on loan in September and has become a regular part of Ian Watson’s side as they challenged for the National League North title.
After falling narrowly short in a season-long title battle with AFC Fylde, the Mariners will now face Buxton in a play-off semi-final tie on Saturday afternoon with the winners set to take on either Kidderminster Harriers or Macclesfield in the final seven days later. Bainbridge is out of contract at the end of the season and Mariners boss Watson has revealed he is keen to ensure the Black Cats youngster becomes a permanent member of his squad - despite conceding he will have ‘a lot of options’.
He told The Echo: “There is definitely an interest from our side. Obviously Ollie is going to have options during the summer. He’ll be leaving Sunderland so he will have a lot of options and it’s up to him what he’s going to do in terms of exploring different things. But we love him here, he’s been amazing for us, we would love to keep him here and make him a big part of what we are going to try and do at the football club - but I also understand we aren’t the only ones going to try and sign him because he has done so well.
“He will have opportunities to play elsewhere but we have to try and convince him this is the right thing and I do genuinely think this is the right thing to do to stay here and build here. I think we can develop him and make him better for the future as well.”