Whites face fight for striker
Simon Grayson will have to fend off strong interest from old club Blackpool and elsewhere in the Championship to land wanted man Alan Gow.
The Leeds United boss is set to make a £200,000 move for the Glasgow Rangers frontman when the transfer window opens tomorrow.
The 26-year-old's loan spell with the Seasiders ended after last night's clash with leaders Wolves – with the Scot netting five goals in 17 games in a productive spell at Bloomfield Road.
Pool are keen to sign the striker permanently, but big admirer Grayson could yet beat them to the punch.
After his final game in charge of Blackpool against Swansea on December 20, Grayson expressed a desire to land six-footer Gow permanently, although his agent Phil McTaggart says he hasn't had direct contact from him this month. But with the new Whites' chief having warned his former club on Boxing Day that he is aiming to pip them to several transfer targets on his new year wish-list, the smart money is on Grayson firming up a move imminently.
Gow, capped once by the Scotland B team, was also the target of summer interest from Norwich and Burnley, snubbing a move to Turf Moor as part of the transfer deal that saw Kyle Lafferty move to Ibrox for £3.25m.
At the time, boyhood Gers fan Gow harboured hopes of having a long-term future at the Scottish giants.
But it remains to be seen whether he has one upon his return north of the border with Rangers willing to sell him last summer.
McTaggart said: "Being 100 per cent honest, I've not spoken to Simon in connection to Alan for maybe over a month. But I know he did want to sign him at Blackpool.
"He enjoyed his time at Blackpool and Simon was good enough to give him the opportunity and from Alan's side, he gave it back and got them some vital points and goals at the right time.
"There's a few clubs in the Championship looking at him and asking me questions.
"He's done well (at Blackpool). He's had some game time and has scored something like five goals. It was much-needed after only playing at Rangers just twice in a year. He's showed he can play and score goals in that division (Championship).
"That's alerted a lot of clubs. And obviously Rangers were willing to sell him in August time and there was a bit of interest from Norwich and Burnley etc. People knew that he was available.
"People know the package (with Alan) and know he's quite appealing to a few teams. If somebody did come in, they'd know what they are going to get."
Gow was also linked with SPL side Motherwell, Birmingham City and Doncaster Rovers last summer.
Meanwhile, Tony Parkes – Grayson's no.2 at Blackpool – has thrown his hat into the ring to land the Seasiders job on a full-time basis – with Steve Thompson as his deputy.
Grayson who has already brought in Ian Miller – right-hand man to Colin Hendry during his time in the Pool hotseat, was instantly linked with a move for the backroom duo after being handed the Elland Road reins.
