Stockport County eyeing up trial stint for Sunderland AFC attacking midfielder | OneFootball

Black Cats midfielder Caden Kelly appears to have caught County's eye.

Stockport County want to look at versatile Sunderland attacking midfielder Caden Kelly before making a decision on whether to sign him this summer.

That's according to journalist Alan Nixon reporting via Patreon on Sunday, as The Hatters look to continue adding talented young players to Dave Challinor's squad.

Kelly has just seen his loan with National League North side Darlington extended until the end of the season, as The Quakers look to continue their push for a play-off spot in the sixth tier of English football.

Stockport County circle Sunderland youngster Caden Kelly

As revealed by Nixon, Stockport are keen to take a look at Kelly before making a formal approach for the Black Cats starlet.

It was reported ahead of transfer deadline day in The Sun that the Hatters were looking into a potential loan deal for Kelly for the remainder of the season, but that did not end up coming to fruition.

Instead, Kelly's loan was extended at National League North outfit Darlington until the end of the season, and it's now been stated that the 21-year-old could be brought in to embark on an extended trial period with County, whilst also continuing to fulfill his loan duties with the Quakers.

Manchester-born, a move to the Greater Manchester outfit would see youngster Kelly effectively return home, in what could be a real driving factor behind a potential transfer.

Having started his footballing journey with Manchester City, he would move to Salford City's academy after a decade with the Citizens.

Sunderland has been his home for the last few years though, and the versatile midfielder would sign his first professional contract with the Wearsiders back in the summer of 2022.

Despite starring in Sunderland's academy system in recent times, first-team opportunities have been hard to come by for the attacker.

As such, with Kelly now at the age where regular senior football is vitally important, he may well be looking for a permanent exit from the Stadium of Light in the near future.

Stockport County could view Sunderland's Caden Kelly as long-term Louie Barry replacement

Capable of operating as a central midfielder, a number 10 or out wide on either wing, Kelly appears to have a profile of being a ball of clay-type player that Stockport could mould into whatever they like.

The Hatters lost a vital weapon in their attacking arsenal when Aston Villa made the decision to recall Louie Barry in the winter transfer window, before sending him back out on loan to Championship side Hull City.

Barry's 16 goals and two assists in 24 total appearances during the first half of the season saw the former Barcelona youngster establish himself as one of the best players in League One, as well as one of the most talked about young talents in the EFL.

Losing a player of that quality is fairly impossible to replace mid-season, and so Stockport may have to lick their wounds for a while before truly beginning the search for his successor in the summer window.

That appears to be what County are doing with Kelly, as getting him inside the building and taking a good look at him now would allow them to see if they have something there, and potentially grab a bargain deal before any other clubs can snatch him from them.