The mid-season window closes this evening and Man Utd could still wrap up some transfer business in the final hours.
Ethan Wheatley's move will be announced today.(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
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Bradford City are set to announce the loan signing of Manchester United striker Ethan Wheatley on transfer deadline day. Wheatley was recalled from Northampton last month with a view to sending him out on loan again.
The Manchester Evening News reported three weeks ago that Wheatley was set to sign for Bradford. The deal is yet to be formally announced, but sources have confirmed it has already been rubber-stamped.
There was a moment of controversy last week when Doncaster manager Grant McCann said Bradford had signed Wheatley. McCann was seen as announcing another club's transfer in his press conference.
Speaking at the weekend, Bradford manager Graham Alexander hit back when he told the BBC: "That's amazing, another manager talking about another club's recruitment.
"When we sign players, we will tell our supporters. I never listen or read anything from opposing managers, I'm not one of these faux-Mourinhos that go into mind games. I concentrate on my players."
Bradford are fifth in League One, 11 points adrift of the top of the table with a game in hand to play. The Bantams are among the bookmakers' favourites to gain promotion to the Championship this season.
Northampton are in the relegation zone in the third tier. Wheatley was recalled from his stint with Northampton because United wanted to offer him another 'development opportunity'.
Wheatley will continue his development at Valley Parade in the second half of the campaign. Speaking to PA last year, he said: "I want to be a Man United player in the future. If that doesn’t happen, then it obviously wasn’t meant to be. We’ll just see what happens in the future."
The youngster is contracted at Old Trafford until the summer of 2028, with the option of another year.