Transfer interested predicted for Stockport County "revelation" | OneFootball

The midfielder has been a revelation to Stockport County since arriving at Edgeley Park

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Stockport County have adjusted incredibly well in their first season back in League One.

Having only been promoted last season, they’re flying high in fourth place in the league, bettering many well-established third-tier outfits.

One key reason for that success has been summer acquisition Lewis Bate, who was installed as club captain on arrival.

We asked our Stockport Fan Pundit, James Cropper, for his thoughts on where Bate’s ceiling is.

Bate is ready for the Championship, says Stockport fan

Speaking to Football League World, James said: “He has been a revelation. I mean we knew he was good, I watched him for MK Dons; he was great last season.

“I definitely would think there will be summer interest. He's not the biggest physical presence, which could hold him back a bit; he's quite small in stature.

“But his passing ability and his skill is just absolutely amazing. But how far up the pyramid do I think he could go?

“I definitely think at this point in his career he could make up the step up to the Championship, pretty easily to be honest. He would definitely suit the Championship because the Championship is starting to transition into more like possession-based football, or a lot of teams are anyway, apart from Millwall.

“I think he’d definitely suit a team that wants to play possession-based football like Middlesborough. I always say them. I mean to be honest, Middlesborough is a bit of a bad place to go now. I don't know whether Carrick’s going to get sacked.

“But back to Bate, He’d definitely suit their side. But he is only 22. All I'll say is I don't think he'd be able to make it in the Premier League, but I definitely think he will be able to be a solid Championship footballer.

“He is a little bit injury prone; he's just come back from an injury. So yeah, that's something to be wary of.

“I reckon if he can keep away from injuries, he could definitely become a solid Championship footballer, but he'd be happy to prove me wrong if he wanted to. You know, I wouldn't be surprised if he played in the Premier League, but I just can't really see it.”

Bate is the primary case study for Stockport’s new transfer focus

Hatters owner Mark Stott is fairly unique in his form for sitting down for a lengthy, open and honest chats with club media at key junctures and last summer, following promotion from League Two, was no different.

He told interviewer Jon Keighren that the Hatters intended to recruit young, talented prospects that perhaps just needed a platform to get their careers back on track, who could then be sold on for a profit.

As the interview laid bare, he probably had loanee Louie Barry in mind when he uttered those words, but it has been Bate who’s created the greatest case study for the new focus.

The club showed great faith in the youngster, giving him the captain’s armband as soon as he arrived, and he has repaid that faith with assured performances in the centre of the park well beyond his years.

It seems likely that, if the Hatters don’t make the jump themselves, that Bate will be the subject of interest from further up the pyramid as a result.

Signed on a free transfer and tied to a three-year deal in the summer, this is the perfect example of Stott’s plan in action, as any interest that crystallises will clearly come with a substantial profit.