DEFENDER Kelvin Mellor will become City’s 14th summer signing as they insist the Charlie Wyke scenario remains unchanged.

The former Blackpool right back is understood to have agreed to join the Bantams and could be unveiled later today.

But club sources maintain the Wyke situation has not moved on despite some claims over the weekend that Sunderland had virtually done the deal.

Black Cats boss Jack Ross is desperate to bring in a target man before their League One kick-off against Charlton next weekend – even though Wyke’s knee injury means he would not be ready anyway.

Ross said: “Everyone looks for those players who will guarantee them goals. That’s been an ongoing pursuit for us for a long time and it has been frustrating … but hopefully that will happen before the Charlton game.”

Bolton are also expected to revive their interest as they prepare to announce the £200,000 signing of Josh Magennis from Charlton. Phil Parkinson wants one more striker and Wyke remains their leading target.

City are being linked with a potential move for Preston’s Eoin Doyle as a fall-back for losing Wyke.

But Michael Collins has again played down reports on the centre forward’s future to focus on his fitness fight.

Collins said: “It’s the same as it was before. Charlie’s had a slight niggle and he’s being dealt with by the medical team on a daily basis.

“As far as I’m concerned, as soon as he’s fit he’ll come back into the fold for Bradford City. I’m not planning for anything different until I’m told otherwise.

“Hopefully sometime soon we’ll see him back out on the training pitch and we can go from there.”

Collins would also not be drawn on Mellor, who City first tried to sign during the January window.

“I don’t want to comment too much at this moment,” he added. “But we’ve made no secret that if there are players who can add to the group that are on the market then we’ll certainly be interested.

“There’s still things happening in the background that we will get done if we can. If we don’t, then I’ve seen a lot of the players this pre-season and I know who can give what now.

“It’s left me with a lot of questions to ask of myself and the coaching staff this week.

“There are many people who have put a strong case forward to be in that starting 11 on Saturday.”

City announced the signing of back-up goalkeeper Ben Wilson before their final friendly at Carlisle. But he was an unused sub as the hosts won 1-0 with a late goal.

Collins, who also rested Hope Akpan as a precaution, admitted everyone is relieved to switch their attentions to the forthcoming curtain-raiser at Shrewsbury.

He said: “You want to win every game you possibly can but people will have started eyeing next week.

“As much as you try and come away from that, it’s a natural instinct for any player.

“We’re in a good place physically going into the first week of the season.

“Our mindset changes now. People realise everything’s clocked on to the business side of it and that’s happening.

“Now we look forward to Shrewsbury and planning for the important stuff. We’ll sit down and discuss how we’re going to set up against them, what their strengths and weaknesses are and build the week off the back of that.

“We’ll go down to Shrewsbury full of confidence to get a result.”