League One side Blackpool have admitted interest in former Lincoln City midfielder Danny Mandroiu, as per the Blackpool Gazette.
The Seadsiders got their season off to a horror start this weekend, losing 2-0 to new boys Crawley in one of the shocks of the day. Boss Neil Critchley, who took the team to the cusp of the play-offs last season, now admits there is work to do on the transfer front.
They’ve been linked with numerous incomings, one of which is former Shamrock Rovers and Lincoln City man Mandroiu. He is a free agent, having been offered a new deal by Lincoln last season but chose not to sign it. In recent weeks, he has been linked with a switch to Bloomfield Road, and Critchley admitted that this is accurate.
“We’re speaking to numerous players,” Critchley said. “We’re talking to Danny (Mandroiu) because he’s a free agent, but we’re in discussions with others. There’s a few weeks to go, we do our work vigorously behind the scenes every day.”
25-year-old Mandroiu joined the Imps in 2022, his second move across the Irish Sea. The first spell at Brighton ended when he returned home, but after impressing with Bohemians and later Shamrock, the Imps came calling. His time at City wasn’t ideal. -he arrived injured, missed a portion of his first season and struggled to make a consistent impact.
Last season, he exploded into life in August with goals and assists, but was again injured, before a red card at home against Burton triggered a chain of events that led to manager Mark Kennedy being dismissed. He was sent off a second time for a lunge against Bolton Wanderers at Christmas, a card which cost the Imps a draw.
He also missed a final-day penalty against Portsmouth in a fixture that, had they won, would have seen the Imps climb into the top six. They lost 2-0.
Critchley admitted that whether it is Mandroiu or, indeed, another player, the Blackpool squad could look different come the end of the window.
“The squad might look slightly different in the next few weeks, we’re still working,” he added. “Regardless of results at the start of the season, it’s our intention to improve and be stronger than we are at the moment.
Writer’s View
There’s no doubt Mandroiu has talent. When he was good for Lincoln City, he looked miles ahead of those around him. He has vision and creativity and could be perfect for Jordan Rhodes, who also thinks one step ahead of many players.
However, there’s a huge question about Mandroiu’s application and attitude. The truth is he cost the Imps promotion in many ways – they were drawing 0-0 with Burton when he was sent off, and the Brewers scored from the free-kick. They were drawing 0-0 with Bolton when he was sent off and then had to fight with ten men, losing 1-0. Had they drawn those matches, they’d have been 6th, not 7th.
That said, Blackpool is closer to home for Madnroiu, which might offer him the safety net he needs to thrive.
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