Wales club Swansea City are looking to hijack a deal under Liverpool’s nose for the highly rated Blackpool midfielder Tom Ince.
The 20-year-old, Liverpool academy starlet moved to Blackpool 18 months ago for a reported fee of £250,000, but manager Brendan Rodgers is keen to bring him back at the Anfield club.
The player has been heavily linked with a move to his former club and has a clause in his contract where Liverpool are entitled to a 35% cut of any future transfer fee for the midfielder. The 20-year-old has been in terrific form this season and has already scored 13 goals for the Tangerines.
Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston has rejected a bid of around £5m from the Reds and refused to settle for any deal less than £6m. The England U-21 international has only six months left on his current deal though he can extend his stay for another year.
However, Liverpool are unwilling to pay over the odds for the player, who graduated from the club’s youth academy. Further, they have already shelled out £12m for Chelsea’s Daniel Sturridge and handed Joe Cole a £3million pay-off.
Swansea City are reportedly looking to enter the race for the prodigy and will test Blackpool’s resolve over the player with a formal bid of £7m. As it stands, Liverpool are unwilling to pay off that premium, while the player wants to return to his former club in January.
“Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston … refused to settle for any deal less than £6m.”
“Swansea City are reportedly looking to enter the race … with a formal bid of £7m”
Tee hee. Did Swansea go to the same transfer masterclass as Liverpool?
Couldn’t care less where he ends up. Why don’t Blackpool just keep him. He won’t play at the pool. Too much competition. Possibly play with the swans though. More chance for him there