Luke O’Brien has become the latest City ace to jump on the Peter Taylor bandwagon.

The club’s former player of the year follows in the footsteps of Lee Bullock, Michael Flynn, Leon Osborne and Jon McLaughlin by putting pen to paper, signing a new two-year deal.

City also have the option of extending his contract to a third year.

Simon Ramsden will also sign his new contract later this week and Taylor wants to have lightning-quick winger Gavin Grant back on board for next term.

Centre of excellence product O’Brien, 21, was one of the last players to commit 12 months ago after a drawn-out contract saga. But City were confident that would not be the case this time around.

Taylor said: “I’m sure Luke wants to be a part of what we’re trying to build here but he was probably looking at the Robbie Threlfall situation.

“But I do honestly feel he has got two options where he can feature in the team. He can operate as a midfield player wide on the left and, in certain games, can also be a left back.

“In the last game of the season at Crewe, he finished playing left midfield in a three so he can also play there. I think he can do that easily.

“Everybody playing in pre-season will have the opportunity to try different positions and that will be the case with Luke.”

O’Brien appeared in 49 games last season, more than anyone else in the squad. Only Flynn made more than his 45 starts.

But having been switched from left back to midfield when Taylor drafted in Threlfall on loan from Liverpool, he lost his ever-present record at Hereford in March.

O’Brien was dropped from the starting line-up after the Easter home loss to Macclesfield and spent the unbeaten six-game finish as a substitute, coming off the bench four times.

Threlfall is one of the four summer signings so far but Taylor clearly sees the left-footed O’Brien as a versatile weapon in his squad – and the Bantams boss is keen to see Grant return as well.

Grant, who played under Taylor before at both Stevenage and Wycombe, joined on a non-contract basis after nearly a year out of the game through personal reasons.

After a slow start, his performances improved as he shed the ring-rust and built up match practice and he was a lively addition in City’s impressive final month.

Taylor said: “As far as we are concerned, I’m hoping Gavin will be back. We’d hope that everything will be sorted out in late July.”

Meanwhile, defender Zesh Rehman has been linked with League One promotion favourites Southampton in a national newspaper.

The report also claimed there has been interest from Northampton and Crewe.

The Pakistan international, who won his City place back for the last ten games of the campaign, has a year left on his present contract at Valley Parade.

Ryman League club Canvey Island have revealed that City will face them in a friendly at the Brockwell Stadium on Wednesday, July 21.

Manager John Batch said: “It’s always nice to welcome Peter back to the club, as we have done in the past when he has brought sides from Hull City and Crystal Palace.”