Blackpool have taken former Premier League midfielder Josh Onomah on trial, according to Football Insider.
The 27-year-old has been without a club since being released by the Tangerines’ rivals Preston North End at the end of the 2022-23 season, and is now looking to secure a deal with another Lancashire outfit. The midfielder has joined up with Blackpool for pre-season in the hope of being added to Neil Critchley’s squad for the upcoming League One campaign.
This isn’t Onomah’s first attempt at securing a move since his release from Deepdale, having gone on trial at Stoke City but failing to win a contract in Staffordshire.
Despite being without a club for a year, the London-born midfielder has considerable pedigree, both in the EFL and the Premier League. He came through the academy at Tottenham Hotspur and went on to make 32 appearances at the North London giants, albeit mostly as a substitute, before being released in 2019.
Onomah had two EFL loan spells during his time at the Lilywhites, spending time in the Championship with Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday. He then moved to Fulham, making 13 top-flight appearances as the Cottagers bounced between the top two tiers, before being released. A move to Preston then materialised, where Onomah played 13 times in the second half of the 2022-23 season.
Should a move to Bloomfield Road happen, Onomah would be Blackpool’s sixth summer signing after a summer of upheaval. While many key players have left the club, all but one incoming has been from the Championship as Neil Critchley’s side look to build on last season’s 8th place finish and make a push up the table. That being said, this is a particularly strong-looking League One season, and so the Tangerines have a job on their hands to return to the second tier.
Writer’s View
This would be a fantastic move for player and club alike. Onomah will be keen to get back to playing after a year without a club but is unlikely to return immediately to the level he was once at. Blackpool are a strong side though, so he has somewhat landed on his feet.
From the club’s point of view, Onomah would be a fantastic acquisition, having never played below the Championship. This League One is stacked so they need all the quality they can get, and Onomah’s experience certainly provides that. If he stays fit and on form, this is a win for both sides.
