Neil Critchley accepts that Blackpool would have little chance of signing Kyle Joseph with Celtic, Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur showing an interest in the Wigan Athletic striker, while speaking to the Gazette.
Five months after England youth star Joe Gelhardt swapped the DW Stadium for Leeds United, another exciting Latics youngster is attracting plenty of glances from some of Britain’s biggest clubs.
Tottenham, Celtic and Sheffield United are interested, according to the Sun (January 10, page 58), and the Mirror (14 January, page 70).
Rangers, meanwhile, are working on a pre-contract deal for the £1 million-rated Joseph, who will become a free agent at the end of the campaign.
With clubs of this size jostling for Joseph’s signature, eyebrows were certainly raised when the 19-year-old was linked with a move to Wigan’s League One rivals Blackpool last week.
According to Critchley, the London-born Scot can probably aim a little higher than Bloomfield Road.
“That’s news to me, I’ve got to be honest,” said the former Liverpool youth coach when asked about Joseph.
“We speak about a lot of players and we look at a lot of players, but Kyle Joseph has been linked with Celtic, Rangers and Tottenham. He’s got a whole host of big clubs looking at him.
“He’s a good player and, while we’re looking (for new players), it’s not right for me to speak about Kyle Joseph because he’s got far bigger clubs looking at him.
“He’s done well so far for Wigan this season, he’s a young player with lots of potential.”
Joseph has scored four times in his breakthrough season at senior level, showcasing his lethal finishing skills with a hat-trick in December’s 4-3 victory over Burton Albion.
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