End In Sight In Gorkss Transfer Saga

A week after Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston publically stated that he would do anything possible to stop star defender Kaspars Gorkss from signing for Queens Park Rangers, Blackpool Vital has learnt that the Loftus Road outfit have been granted permission to speak to the Latvian international. Or at least so they are claiming on their official website!

The Seasiders lodged a formal complaint with the Football Association last month claiming that QPR had made an illegal approach for the 26 year old.

So why, we wonder, have QPR now been allowed to speak to him with a view to a permanent deal being finalised early next week? There appear to be two possible reasons.

Firstly could it be that QPR have not been found guilty of making an illegal approach and therefore are entitled to sign Gorkss having offered to pay Blackpool the alleged £250,000 in his release clause? It is believed that he has already agreed personal terms with the Londoners, presumably on the basis that he believes he and they have acted appropriately.

Or could it be that QPR, concerned that they may be found guilty of making such an approach, have upped the ante and offered Blackpool a fee in excess of £250,000 in order to reach a speedy conclusion to the matter? The fact that Kaspars was not present at the Seasiders first day of pre-season training yesterday could point to this being a distinct possibility.

Either way Simon Grayson is now going to have to plan for the Tangerines second season in the Championship without two of last season's major stars - Wes Hoolahan and Kaspars Gorkss. The signings of Gilks, Baptiste, Broomes and Martin are clearly a step in the right direction, but of more importance in the coming weeks will be how well he can utilise his unexpected £500,000 plus windfall to bring in a couple of quality signings. Now that really is a challenge for a man who has shown himself to thrive in the transfer market!

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