Blackpool Inces in a quandary after bid from Cardiff

Blackpool have accepted a bid from Cardiff for Thomas Ince, according to manager Paul Ince.

The 21-year-old is one of the most sought-after players in the Championship after making his name as a goal-scoring midfielder at Bloomfield Road.

Cardiff are looking to strengthen their squad after promotion to the Barclays Premier League, but Paul Ince reckons it is only “50-50” his son will move on. “Cardiff have come in massively for Thomas, the chairman’s accepted the offer,” said Ince senior.

“I’m not sure what the offer is because I’ve been away, but that’s been accepted, so it’s a case of when Thomas comes back next week, we’ll sit down and see what he wants to do.”

Blackpool have been on warm weather training in Portugal, but Thomas Ince was given extra time off because of his involvement with England Under-21s and is not due back at the club until next Monday.

Ince added: “He loves it here. He said to me, ‘I’m in no rush to get to the Premiership, I’m in no rush to leave Blackpool’. I think it’s 50-50 at the moment. It’s a tricky one for me because obviously you want your son to be playing in the Premiership, but you obviously want your son to be playing with you.

“I feel as far as improvement there’s still a long way for Thomas to go and will he get that if he went to the Premiership? I’m not sure. I know what he needs because he’s grown up with me. Another year wouldn’t hurt him at Blackpool.”