Bristol Rovers may have lost out on one key transfer target, according to the latest reports.
Here In The City's Pete O'Rourke has revealed Plymouth Argyle centre-back Ryan Edwards is on the verge of signing with Blackpool.
The League One side may have pipped the Gas to the signature of the 6ft 5ins defender, who is available on a free transfer this summer after making 38 appearances for the Pilgrims as they were relegated to League Two.
No official announcement has yet been made and until that happens Rovers may believe they still have a chance of Edwards' signature.
Despite being offered a new deal at Home Park, Edwards confirmed he will be leaving the club on Twitter earlier this month, thanking them for sticking by him after being diagnosed with testicular cancer last season.
Edwards would have been a good pick-up for Rovers but it seems that the lure of the north west has proven pivotal, with the former Rochdale man having come through the ranks at Blackburn Rovers and also spent time playing at Fleetwood Town.
The Gas' trump card may have been the carrot of first-team football, and The Sun reported previously that Bristol Rovers would view Edwards as a starter, most likely as a replacement for Tom Lockyer, who has turned down a new contract in an attempt find higher-league football.
However, a move to the Tangerines seems to have scuppered all that with Blackpool also confirming on Thursday that fam Simon Sadler has completed a 96.2 per cent acquisition of the club.
Sadler, born and raised in Blackpool, is currently CEO of Hong Kong-based asset management business Segantii Capital Management.
Meanwhile, Manchester United and Liverpool have confirmed that they will both field U21 sides in next season's EFL Trophy competition.
