Blackpool forward Jerry Yates has wants to sign for Swansea City, and that desire took a step closer last night when reports stated an offer by the Swans had been accepted by Blackpool. The League One club have had numerous inquiries for the Docaster born twenty six year old but it’s Swansea he has set his heart on.

Since signing for Blackpool in 2020 Yates has shot to notice and scored a goal in approximately every two and a half games. Even in a struggling Blackpool side last season he bagged fourteen league goals as his side were relegated back to league one. The deal is said to be ‘In the lower millions’ which will surprise some Swans fans, but Blackpool followers hold him in high esteem and many are incandescent with rage on their main forum over the alleged two and a half million pounds fee. The majority seeing it as their club being a soft touch. However, only those close to the talks will know the exact amounts - so rumours of a swap deal including cash and Kyle Joseph are just that at the moment.

Michael Duff did indicate a few weeks ago he wanted more experienced players in his Swansea side starting next season to help along the younger squad players, and it seems that is what he has in Yates. Only last month Leicester City were knocked back on a bid of around the same price for Yates which will mean the Swans have either structured the deal more appealingly or there is some truth in a player swap.

Yates was a slow burner during the early days of his career featuring on loan at both Harrogate clubs, Swindon Town and Carlisle United which ensured he was able to build a solid foundation to his game. But it’s his performances at Blackpool that have alerted clubs in the championship and Glasgow Rangers north of the border of his prowess in front of goal. The list of clubs linked to Yates last month is lengthy so it may well be that Ince again Paul Watson and Josh Marsh at the Swans have done some excellent keg work in this one,

Of the increasing interest in Yates in June Tangerines boss Neil Critchley said publicly, "You want your best players and Jerry is definitely one of them, but you also want players who want to be here as well. Until I have these conversations I don't know yet so that's obviously something for us to think about and discuss in the next few weeks." Critchley will know how tender these periods are in football, he left Blackpool less than year ago for Aston Villa, then moved on to QPR where he was sacked after twelve games. He is now back at Bloomfield Road failing to keep his side in the championship last season.

More details as we get them today, however there will also be news of players potentially leaving as well, so stay in touch with us here at Swansea Independent.

Photographs licensed from Reuters

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