BLACKPOOL will be watching the clock tonight as the minutes tick down to the 11pm transfer deadline.
Seasiders fans have grown used to last-gasp signings in recent years and this deadline day looks like being no different, with caretaker boss Steve Thompson and club secretary Matt Williams working hard to get deals over the line, especially for strikers.
Manchester City defender Reece Wabara arrived on loan yesterday, having grabbed headlines last weekend by netting Oldham’s FA Cup winner against Liverpool.
Pool’s signing of the 21-year-old for the rest of the season casts doubts over the future of Neal Eardley.
Eardley is believed to be a target for Championship rivals Barnsley and Millwall and could leave Bloomfield Road on loan today.
Wabara joined City from Walsall’s youth ranks almost two years ago and was loaned to Oldham in September, making 28 appearances.
The England U20 international’s only appearance for City was as a substitute against Bolton on the final day of the 2010/2011 season. He then spent three months of the following campaign at Ipswich.
He trains with his new team-mates today and will go straight into the squad for Saturday’s game against Barnsley.
Pool made an unsuccessful attempt to sign a second City player yesterday. Desperate to add the their striking options, Pool enquired about John Guidetti but were told the 20-year-old was not available for loan.
The Swede scored 20 goals in 23 games on loan at Feyenoord last season but is yet to feature in City’s first team.
Besides new arrivals, Pool supporters will also be anxiously awaiting news about two current favourites
Liverpool, Reading and Swansea are considering late bids for Tom Ince, while former Pool boss Michael Appleton is said to be preparing a bid to take captain Alex Baptiste to Blackburn.
Blackpool remain determined and confident of keeping both players at Bloomfield Road.
Kevin Phillips could also be heading for the exit door, with Hull City and Watford both interested.
Having no manager makes this deadline day more difficult for Pool – as does the condition of the Bloomfield Road pitch.
But Thompson, still unsure of his future after three weeks as caretaker boss, said: “Players might not fancy coming here because of the pitch, but if the contract is right and the money is right, they’ll go and play anywhere.
“We want players to come and play for us.”
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