Michael Appleton signals Blackpool recruitment intentions and addresses transfer frustrations

Blackpool made their first signing of the summer transfer window when Manchester City loanee Lewis Fiorini was announced prior to the friendly defeat to Rangers.

Pressure has been growing on the Seasiders to make progress in the market and the arrival of Fiorini signals the first of what Michael Appleton hopes will be a few more signings in the door. New faces to freshen up the squad have been a fundamental part of the discourse since Appleton arrived for his second spell at Bloomfield Road and the club are working hard behind the scenes to ensure the recruitment is up to the right standard.

It's understood Shamrock Rovers' Andy Lyons and Manchester City's Morgan Rogers are both deals on the table, while Appleton has confirmed the club are in a fight for a number of players - some of whom will not have come to light. Appleton is well known for developing younger players and has built connections with top Premier League clubs as a result, something which aided him with his experience tutoring Fiorini on loan at Lincoln City last season.

The Premier League loan market provides a foundation for Blackpool to utilise players who perhaps would be out of their reach on a permanent basis, but clubs are keen to run the rule over their assets in pre-season before deciding to send them out to other clubs to gain experience.

When Lancs Live asked about Appleton making use of that market further following the arrival of Fiorini, he was clear on his intentions: "Definitely, yeah definitely I think it's important. Those ones you're not in control a little bit, it's one of them where you want a player but the reality is they want to take them on their pre-season tours and they won't let them out until they've done that so you've just