Town boss Paul Hurst reportedly hopes to finally land Blackpool centre-half Curtis Tilt this week ahead of Friday’s loan deadline.
According to The Sun on Sunday, the Blues are hopeful that their lengthy pursuit of the 27-year-old will come to a successful conclusion this week for a reported fee of £1 million. The move would be an initial loan with the deal made permanent in January.
Town have been chasing Tilt all summer with bids of up to £800,000 previously rebuffed by the Seasiders, who have been determined to get the top price possible for their prized asset.
Tilt, who has a year left on his contract at Bloomfield Road but with the Tangerines having an option for a further season, was left out of the Blackpool team which drew 1-1 at home to Accrington yesterday but interim-boss Terry McPhillips said the former Wrexham man was left out as a fitness precaution.
"Tilty played three games in a week and he reported in today a bit tight, so we didn’t want to take the chance,” he told the Blackpool Gazette.
"I think he’s just tight all over. Obviously he missed the game at the start of the season but since then he’s played three. The last thing we want is for him to go pop, so that was the decision.”
Quizzed on whether he expected Tilt’s exit this week, McPhillips added: "Not to my knowledge, we’ll see. No one has told me anyway. As far as I know he is our player.”
Tilt, who is understood to have handed in a transfer request, was spotted talking to McPhillips along with his agent after yesterday’s match.
Asked whether Tilt being left out by Blackpool was related to Town’s interest after yesterday’s match at Sheffield Wednesday, Hurst responded: "I don’t know. I think I had a similar question at the start of the season. I don’t know.
"I’m surprised he hasn’t played that’s all I would say having played the last couple of games and kept clean sheets. Unless there’s an injury I’m not aware of it seems an odd decision.”
However, he confirmed Tilt is a player he remains interested in: "Yes, I’m not going to change my mind and think he’s suddenly a bad player or anything but he’s one of the players [I’m interested in], no secret.
"I don’t particularly like speaking about other players but it’s out there but it’s been discussed numerous times already.”
Blues boss Hurst wants three loanees before Friday, a central defender, a striker and a left-sided winger.