Bristol Rovers could lose goalkeeper Luke Southwood as Blackpool target the Northern Irish shot stopper.
The 28-year-old has been locked in a battle for the number one shirt at the Memorial Stadium with Brad Young this season and has seemingly lost out with new Gas manager Steve Evans preferring the former Hartlepool United man.
Evatt Eyes Reunion
However, Southwood could soon find himself in League One, with Alan Nixon reporting via his Patreon page that Blackpool are interested in making a move amid their own goalkeeping uncertainties.
Current Seasiders first choice Bailey Peacock-Farrell is out of contract and while the club have offered him new terms to stick around at Bloomfield Road, no decision has been reached yet.
Evatt has previously worked with Southwood at their former side Bolton Wanderers, their paths overlapping for six months prior to the manager’s sacking in January of last year.
He was followed out of the door by the 28-year-old months later, with the Pirates scooping him up for an undisclosed fee, with his deal running until the end of next season.
Southwood was one of seven current players at the League Two club to be listed for transfer, with fellow goalkeeper Jed Ward being linked with National League champions York City following his success at Yeovil Town.
Other players on that list have garnered interest from the third tier, with Kamil Conteh also tipped to make the step up in a report by Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke.
Is Southwood An Upgrade?
Luke Southwood looks to be falling upwards if reports are to be believed that he is a target for Blackpool this summer.
Ian Evatt seems to have a level of trust in the 28-year-old that he can deliver in League One, having put the faith in him to do so at Bolton, which ultimately ended in the sacking of the 44-year-old months later.
With Bailey Peacock-Farrell still in the picture, should he sign a new deal with the Tangerines, Southwood may face a battle once again to get regular game time, which could also benefit his international future with Northern Ireland.
But, there should be some caution with Southwood being ousted by Brad Young under Steve Evans, especially after Rovers’ fortunes took an upward turn in the final months of the season.
Ultimately, with him out of the plans at the Mem, any deal which sees him leave will be good business and can be used to reinvest as Evans continues on the warpath towards promotion.
