Blackpool have confirmed they have struck a season-long loan deal for St. Pauli’s Scott Banks.
The Tangerines were tipped with a move for a winger on deadline day, with reports earlier in the day linking them with Kaide Gordon of Liverpool. A deal for the former Portsmouth loanee cooled as the hours progressed, and instead, Steve Bruce’s side have moved to sign the former Crystal Palace academy player.
Banks Heads To The Seaside
Banks has spent the past two years at St. Pauli, where he provided the pivotal assist which sent the Hamburg side back into the Bundesliga. He has made just sixteen appearances for the German side since arriving, with his initial loan spell from the Eagles being scuppered by a lengthy injury layoff.
The Scottish youth international spent the early part of his career with Dundee United, before being picked up by Palace and sent on loans around the SPFL. He was handed his only bit of EFL experience in the 2022/23 season with a loan at Bradford City, where he enamoured himself to the Bantams, picking up their Young Player of the Season award for their playoff campaign under Mark Hughes.
Speaking about the move to Blackpool, the 23-year-old said:
“I’m delighted to be here and cannot wait to get started.
“This is a huge opportunity for me and after a great time out in Germany where I played at some huge stadiums, I feel prepared for what’s to come here at Blackpool.
“I’m really excited to get started, show what I can do and help the Club achieve it’s aims.”
Writers’ View
Scott Banks has had a difficult time since moving to Germany, not getting any serious game time for St. Pauli. A move to Blackpool will give him regular football on the left hand side of midfield in a somewhat familiar environment of the EFL. If he can return to the form he showed during his loan at Bradford City, then Steve Bruce has a very capable winger on his hands.
