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Blackpool's Ince set for loan, Swansea linked

Blackpool winger Thomas Ince has been given permission to join a Premier League club on loan in January, with Swansea reported to be in talks with the player.

Ince, who began his career at Liverpool before moving to Bloomfield Road in 2011, was the subject of a bid from the Reds in the last January transfer window but the two clubs could not agree a fee.

Reading also made an offer for Ince, but it is Swansea who have been most heavily linked this window. Ince is an England Under-21 international rated at £6 million, who was named Young Player of the Year at the Football League Awards last year.

Ince, 21, - whose father, Paul, was dismissed as Blackpool manager last week - has now requested that he be able to see out the season at a top-flight club.

A statement on the Blackpool website read: "Blackpool Football Club can confirm that, following discussions with Thomas Ince and his representative, permission has been given for Thomas to discuss a loan move to a Premier League club. Thomas has expressed his ambition to play in the Premier League for the remainder of the season, a decision that the club fully understands and supports."

Swansea boss Michael Laudrup refused to disclose the names of his transfer targets when pressed by reporters.

"I won't comment on rumours and names," Laudrup said. "I could do it every day, but the most important players are the ones here, even more so with the games coming up. If someone comes in it will be to help the squad. We will not sign Juan Mata, a player [who could] come in and light up the whole thing. So if someone comes in it will to be a part of things here and not a star."

Meanwhile, Laudrup moved to dismiss stories in some newspapers that there is some discontent in his Swansea camp, as they struggle to steer clear of the relegation positions at the wrong end of the Premier League table.

"There is absolutely no problem with the harmony of the team," he said ahead of Tuesday night's crucial home match against relegation rivals Fulham. "This is what happens in football. There are so many cases and things always pop up when you are struggling.

"I don't want to use others as examples, but I remember last year there was so much talking about all the French players at Newcastle. This year they're exactly the same players, but I haven't read anything.

"All that has changed is they are playing good and they are winning, which is what football is about. On another level, look at all the stories that are coming out about Manchester United right now. Last year, I didn't hear them. Last year it was Manchester City and again, this year I don't hear anything."

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