The Players Who Could Still Leave Bloomfield Road

The transfer window is in full flow right now, with big deals being made up and down the country, in every league.

That is no different for Blackpool, who have brought in five players so far this transfer window, including former loanee Hayden Coulson, and their latest signing, Lee Evans.

But, there have not been too many players leaving the club, since the release of Blackpool’s retained list, with Zak Emmerson departing on a permanent deal to Halifax Town.

Here, we look at some of the players who could still find their way playing their football away from Bloomfield Road next season.

Jordan Gabriel

The first player that could find himself playing outside of Blackpool come the end of the transfer window is a fan favourite, attacking full back Jordan Gabriel.

Gabriel first appeared for Blackpool on loan during the 2020-21 season, in which he helped Blackpool reach and win the League One playoff final, securing them a spot in The Championship, after making 27 appearances.

He impressed in his loan season, with his constant marauding runs forward, overlapping on the wings, and ability to find a pass. His defensive work was impressive as well, rarely beaten out wide, with his incredible pace helping when Blackpool were caught on a counterattack.

The end of Gabriel’s loan spell came, and Blackpool clearly stated their intent. They wanted their man back, and permanently this time, and, eventually, they got him, joining from Nottingham Forest on a permanent deal, ready for Blackpool’s first season in The Championship.

Injury problems have slightly hampered his progress at Blackpool. Every time he starts to impress again and gets a run of games, an injury crops up meaning he misses the next few months.

There was at one point interest from Burnley, however, they ultimately looked elsewhere, but now, after impressing again in his last season with Blackpool, there is more interest in his services, with fellow League One side Lincoln City, and now Championship side Oxford United, both rumoured to be looking at him.

Should he leave, it will be a massive loss for Blackpool, and he will be hard to replace, both in the dressing room and on the pitch.

Daniel Grimshaw

Another big player linked with a move away from Blackpool, is their number one goalkeeper, Daniel Grimshaw.

The Man City graduate found game time hard to come by in the early stages in his career. A loan move to Hemel Hempstead only resulted in 7 games, and a loan to Lommel the season after only gave Grimshaw a further 10 games.

Following his release from Man City, Blackpool snapped up the young English keeper, and it was not long before he got a chance in the first team.

Two injuries to Chris Maxwell in the 2021-22 season meant that Grimshaw got his chance to impress the Blackpool fans, and he certainly did that.

His eye for a pass when under pressure was one of the main standouts, alongside a good record of one one-on-one shot stopping, Blackpool had finally found a goalkeeper they could consistently rely on.

They certainly have relied on him since then as well, having kept his place as first-choice goalkeeper since then, and it is not a surprise that a few clubs have now come sniffing around him, especially after keeping 18 clean sheets in League One last season.

Should any clubs come in with an actual offer for Grimshaw, it would have to be a big one. The 26-year-old still has a good future ahead of him, and could easily play in The Championship. Blackpool are not flush with goalkeepers at the moment and would have to rely on experienced head Richard O’Donnell to don the gloves unless a replacement is brought in.

Kyle Joseph

The third player linked with a move away from Bloomfield Road is one that has not been at the club long, Kyle Joseph.

It may come as a shock to Blackpool fans that he is already being linked with a move away from the club, but it is no surprise after his struggle for game time last season.

Joseph was part of the deal that saw fan favourite Jerry Yates move to Swansea, in a player plus cash deal, seeing Joseph move the other way to Bloomfield Road.

His time in Tangerine has been less than impressive, with just two goals in 37 appearances in all competitions, and just one goal and seven assists in the league.

These stats should be taken lightly, however, as Joseph only started a handful of times in those 37 appearances, constantly being rotated out for the likes of Rhodes, Beesley, Kousassi and Lavery.

Not being able to feature regularly has hampered Joseph's Blackpool career, but that has not stopped Wigan and another unnamed League One club both enquiring about his services.

Should Joseph leave the club this summer, Blackpool fans will not be too downhearted, with there being better options at the club already, such as new signings Ashley Fletcher and Jordan Rhodes.