According to Pete O’Rourke, League One side Blackpool are considering a move for former Barrow defender Theo Vassell.
The 28-year-old is currently a free agent after leaving Barrow following one impressive season with the Bluebirds. Vassell made 39 appearances last season in all competitions, scoring six goals and assisting once in the process.
O’Rourke reported that Bristol Rovers, Shrewsbury Town and Scottish side St. Mirren were interested in the Englishman in January; however, a move never materialised, and he spent the rest of the season and the rest of his one-year contract at the SO Legal Stadium.
This transfer window has seen Vassell linked with League One rivals Exeter City, also according to Pete O’Rourke.
New Seasiders head-coach Stephen Clemence has reunited with manager Steve Bruce, and managed Vassell at Barrow in the first half of the season last season, and is said to be an admirer of the 28-year-old.
Blackpool Need More Defensive Recruits
It is no secret that Blackpool needed to recruit defensively, after Ipswich Town loanee Elkan Baggott returned to Portman Road, whilst Matthew Pennington, who has been offered a new contract, has been linked with moves away. That left just two centre-backs under contract.
Bruce’s side conceded 60 goals in 46 League One games last season, which was the second-worst record out of the top 10 teams.
However, since then, the Seasiders have completed the signings of former Stockport County centre-back Fraser Horsfall and former Sheffield Wednesday centre-back Michael Ihiekwe, taking their total up to four.
Vassell can play anywhere across the backline, which will prove handy if Blackpool fail to sign another right-back, with Jordan Gabriel joining Port Vale and Andy Lyons recovering from a crucial ligament injury he sustained last season.
The former Salford City player played predominantly at centre-back last season, but played at right-back once.
Theo Vassell’s Career So Far
The 28-year-old has played for a plethora of EFL teams, starting his career at Stoke City, before experiencing short spells at Oldham Athletic, Walsall, Chester, Gateshead, Port Vale and Macclesfield, before joining Wrexham. He joined Salford in 2021, where he spent three years, his longest stint at a club, before moving to Barrow last summer.
The centre-back has just short of 100 games at National League level, and over 150 games under his belt at League Two level, but none at League One level, meaning a potential transfer to Blackpool or Exeter would be his first taste of third-tier football.
At 28, Vassell is in his prime, and showed signs last season that he could make that step up.
Writer’s View
Whilst Vassell was no doubt one of the best centre-backs in League Two last season, a move to Blackpool might be a step up too quickly for the 28-year-old. The Seasiders will be pushing for Championship football again after two seasons in the third tier, which will put a lot of pressure on players and management alike.
The Englishman may not get the game time he’ll be hoping for if he were to move to Bloomfield Road, so a move to Exeter or a League One club who’s expected to finish lower might be more beneficial for Vassell in this stage of his career.
