'Pool Goodwillie Bid Rejected?

According to reports north of the border tonight, Blackpool have had an offer in the region of £1.6 million rejected for Dundee United striker David Goodwillie.

The Seasiders have been tracking the player for a long time now, and look to have made their move for the player once the rape charges against him were dropped earlier this week.

However, Dundee United are known to have put a £2 million price tag on Goodwillie, and are confident of attracting such a fee with around a dozen clubs said to be interested in him.

There were reports that Goodwillie was at Bloomfield Road last night to see the 'Pool beat Hibs, although this has been strongly denied by BFC.

Nevertheless, several Scottish journalists believe that 'Pool are the frontrunners for the striker's choice (as we reported earlier this summer), and that, in fact, Bloomfield Road is the player's preferred destination, with Championship rivals Cardiff looking to have dropped out of the race for his signature.

However, it looks like 'Pool may well have to improve their offer for Goodie - rumoured to have included add-ons - and match Dundee United's £2 million valuation sharpish if they don't want the player to slip through their fingers.

Speaking to BBC Scotland, United manager Peter Houston said:

'First and foremost, he'll not be going anywhere unless someone puts money on the table.

'We've got here a lad who scored 20 goals or something like that last year in the SPL. That's brilliant for a provincial club like Dundee United.

'The chairman has made it well known what his valuation of the player is.

'If somebody wants to pay that and the chairman wants to accept it, David will be away.

'All I'll say to him is, think carefully where he is going to go.

'David spoke earlier that he wanted to go down south to get this nonsense out of the road. I don't know if that's changed yet.'

Scotland manager Craig Levein has also indicated that Goodwillie - considered by many to be the hottest property in Scottish football at present - is back in his plans following the charges against him being dropped.

Interestingly, Blackpool released their new squad numbers today, with the number 25 - Goodie's old number at Dundee United - being kept free. A hint or a coincidence? I guess the coming days will reveal all!

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