Blackpool striker Jerry Yates insists that he is ‘happy’ at the Championship club despite reported interest from West Brom and Rangers, speaking to Sky Sports.
With no Aleksandr Mitrovic around to strike fear into the heart of centre-halves from Middlesbrough to Millwall, the Golden Boot race in England’s second-tier feels like anyone’s to lose this time around.
Going into the World Cup break, there are no fewer than eight players tied at the top, with nine goals apiece. Yates is among them, finding the net more regularly in 2022/23 already than he did during the whole of 2021/22.
“He’s a confidence player, Jerry. Just look at the two goals he scored against Sheffield United (in October); the header and the volley. He made them look very easy,” says Blackpool legend Brett Ormerod.
“There’s been speculation linking him with a number of clubs. But that’s to be expected when you’re playing as well as he is. It’s a compliment to him about how well he’s been playing.
“It’s very hard to be consistent in the Championship. But he’s managed to do that so far this season. He’s had a really good spell and long may that continue.”
West Brom and Rangers like Blackpool’s Championship hitman Jerry Yates
With Alfredo Morelos enduring the most barren spell of his Rangers career, and with West Brom lacking a consistent threat in the absence of Daryl Dike, that ‘speculation’ is not going anywhere. Especially with the January transfer window now just six weeks away.
Not that Yates, who was playing in League Two with Swindon Town as recently as 2020, had any interest in pouring fuel on the fire when quizzed about those links with Rangers and West Brom.
“It’s a nice feeling,” says the late-blooming 26-year-old. “But I’m happy at Blackpool. I’ve got a few more years left on my contract here.”
According to Alan Nixon, Blackpool would be willing to cash in on Yates, knowing that a sizeable cash windfall would give manager Michael Appleton the opportunity to reinvest in the rest of his squad. The Tangerines value Yates at £5 million. Rangers, however, are only willing to part with £2 million as things stand.
Yates, in addition to being the leading goalscorer, is also the Championship’s current Player of the Month.
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