Blackpool in race for Watford striker

The 20-year-old is available on loan after Port Vale decided against extending his six-month spell.

Ikpeazu was Vale’s joint- top scorer with six but hadn’t started a game since his red card at Burton in October.

He has faced Blackpool twice this season and impressed enough for Neil McDonald to make a short-term swoop.

The London-born striker is yet to play a senior game for Watford but gained Football League experience in previous seasons at Crewe and Doncaster.

Gazette sources in Scotland suggest Pool have moved for Ikpeazu as have with Scottish Premiership side Dundee United. It will be up to the player to decide.

Pool have agreed a fee with Burton to sign Dean Lyness on a permanent deal after the keeper impressed on loan at Bloomfield Road.

The Gazette understands terms have been agreed but Pool are reluctant to complete the deal until reserve keeper Kyle Letheren has been offloaded. Letheren is believed to be in talks with a number of clubs after being told he can leave Bloomfield Road.

While Pool remain typically silent, Burton boss Nigel Clough has spoken of the Lyness deal.

He said: “It was going through, then it wasn’t, then it was and now it isn’t again. We’re hoping it will go through, for Dean’s sake more than anybody’s.

“I think it’s pretty close and there’s no problem at our end whatsoever. I think it’s just Blackpool getting sorted with their second-choice keeper.

“Everything is agreed in principle. We’re just waiting for the all-clear.”

McDonald refuses to discuss targets by name but the Pool manager does believe his side will be ready to compete with League One’s better sides if he can add quality.

He said: “It’s a big opportunity to strengthen the squad. The squad is much more competitive now and I think we are now competing with the top teams, whereas we weren’t at the start of the season.

“We still need to win more games and score more goals but there’s been an improvement. There’s more improvement to be done, and if we can bring players in that will help.”