Ian Evatt shares Blackpool's current transfer situation amid recent links with Barnsley man

Blackpool still find themselves with some key areas to fill heading into the final stages of the summer transfer window.

The Seasiders have added six players to their ranks over the last few months, with Dion Charles, Ilmari Niskanen, Karoy Anderson, Jordan Williams, Finley Munroe and Luke Southwood all making the move to Bloomfield Road.

Early season injuries have left certain departments needing more work before the September 1 deadline.

This includes the defence, which needs cover for the current absences of Fraser Horsfall and Michael Ihiekwe, and the departure of James Husband at the end of his contract - with Jordan Williams, Olly Casey and Zac Ashworth forming the back three currently.

Earlier this week, Pete O’Rourke linked Barnsley defender Josh Earl with Blackpool, with the ex-Preston North End man inside the final year of his contract at Oakwell.

Seasiders head coach Ian Evatt is pleased with the work done at Bloomfield Road so far this summer, and is hoping any further business will follow the same standards.

“Everyone knows where we are short, we just need to keep working hard to make the right decisions for this football club, sometimes that’s patience, and we’ve all had to be very patient in this window, but we’re not the only ones,” he said.

“The ones we have signed have been good business, they’ve helped to improve the squad, and the last few bits we do need to do the same.

“There is a chain, and like always people will speculate. I’m not going to speak about any names - fans have opinions and opposition fans have opinions, but all I’ll say is, we’re incredibly diligent in what we want to do. I’m quite selective with what the players I want to sign look like, and how they’ll fit into what we want to do here.

“We’re working hard to make those happen, and make sure it’s the best thing for us. With recruitment there’s always risk, but like the injuries we try to mitigate that as much as we can.”

Striker linked with Blackpool exit

Elsewhere this week, there’s also been reports this week that a number of sides are interested in signing Kylian Kouassi, with Blackpool currently listening to offers for the striker.

“While Kylian is here, he’s still our player and he can still affect our team,” Evatt added.

“He was thrown in at the deep end last week, some might say out of necessity, but I would say he’s had a good pre-season and has worked pretty hard to earn that right.

“Football has a strange way sometimes of giving you opportunities when you least expect them.

“He had an opportunity last week, and while he’s still here he’s still going to get those opportunities. He brings a different skill set to the others and we’ll try to utilise him to the best of his abilities to see where that takes us.”