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Blackpool eye striker Eaves
Reporter: MATTHEW CHAMBERS
Date online: 21 July 2010
Offers short of Latics’ valuation
BLACKPOOL have made two offers to sign young Athletic striker Tom Eaves.
The Premier League new boys want to take the rangy 18-year-old frontman, who only two months ago signed a five-year contract with Athletic, to Bloomfield Road.
However, both bids — one to be in the region of £200,000 — are have fallen short of Athletic’s valuation of Eaves, and Blackpool manager Ian Holloway is thought to be looking elsewhere to boost his squad.
It is no secret that finances are tight at Boundary Park following the recent twin resignation of main backers Simon Blitz and Danny Gazal.
And any substantial offer for Eaves — a player with plenty of potential who has interested a number of higher-division clubs due to his scoring exploits in the youth team — would be carefully considered by new chairman Simon Corney and the remaining board.
Eaves sat out last night’s 1-1 draw with Wigan, with manager Paul Dickov impressing off the bench in the final stages of the friendly at Boundary Park. Eaves is in the squad for tonight’s friendly at Mossley.
New signing Warren Feeney, last season’s top scorer Pawel Abbott, Ryan Brooke and Lewis Alessandra are already on board and with the addition of himself, Dickov may feel that with striking options aplenty any Eaves cash made available could be put to good use strengthening other areas of the squad.
Last season’s captain Sean Gregan is back in light training following an Achilles problem but the centre-back position remains a priority for strengthening.
Trialist pair Jason Jarrett and Rod MacDonald both impressed once again last night in the heart of defence and could be set for contract offers if Dickov can successfully manage his playing budget.
“They have all done well,” said Dickov in reference to the remaining trialists, who also include midfielder Francois Kompany.
“Jason Jarrett has been outstanding at centre-back — he looks as if he has played there a hell of a lot (rather than in midfield, where he has spent most of his career).
“We will try to sort things out, but sometimes circumstances dictate what I can and can’t do.
“That isn’t me moaning about it. If we go with what we have got at the moment and I can get what I want out of the boys — and what they want as well — then I will be delighted to start the season with what we have got.”
Meanwhile, Andy Holdsworth will make his long-awaited comeback from injury tonight in Athletic’s latest pre-season warm-up game at Mossley (kick-off 7.3pm).
The former Huddersfield player has been out since before Christmas with a knee injury.
Athletic: Fleming, Trialist, Lomax, Worthington, Fodor, MacDonald, Colbeck, Highdale, Eaves, Bembo-leta, Kompany, Holdsworth, Ollerenshaw, Kelly, M D Carr, Hughes, Kidd, Crompton.
Comments
Cash in on him now, 90% Sure hes another spencer/tipton/dudley. Full of potential but hasnt even scored a senior goal yet!
250K Plus add ons is a good deal for me.
Neal Eardley, a full Welsh international was sold to Blackpool for peanuts last season and should Oldham allow one of the only genuine prospects we have to leave at the figure quoted, then we might as well pack up now. Dickov is obviously in need of financial support and needs to acquire another centre-half urgently but surely not another sell-out to Blackpool, a club who have achieved much in the past three seasons, very much the opposite to our fortunes. Brink of the abyss time - No wonder !!
he won't have any say in the matter.
If the club accept an offer then he's gone whether he wants to or not.
500k more like it with sell on clause, he would be silly to go to blackpool to sit on the bench , he needs games.
Judging from his attitude and body language in the exercises with the fitness coach at half time last night, it looks like he's already on his way in his head.
I just hope that City sell Richards thereby bringing in a better sum of money than what the premature sale of Eaves would achieve.
im with you lazyboy the boy has only potential at the moment and that 200k will help out in other areas.
a goalkeeper is needed now for sure although brill has done well pre season we all know the calamaty of last season.
caboroig i think dale stephens is the best prospect at BP and would want more for him but tom eaves im sorry i just cant see it yet
Am i missing something. the fact he is 18 means there is potential of course but i have seen nothing to make sense of a five year contract never mind premiership clubs. to me ryan brook has looked the more likly prospect.
Have Your Say
I think 200k is poor , the lad has just signed a five year contract hes young and raw and i think he will not leave us unless his head gets turned over on big money.
By Ibby786 @ 21/07/2010 13:51:14