Blackpool winger Thomas Ince is set to sign a pre contract agreement with oil rich French side AS Monaco, with a view to a move in the summer.
The youngster travelled down to London to hold talks with the Ligue 1 side, and a transfer looks done and dusted, leaving several Premier League clubs fall short.
Welsh clubs Swansea City and Cardiff City were rumoured to be interested in the young winger, who had stalled on a new contract at Bloomfield Road.
Cardiff had agreed to pay the £8 million buy out clause, however, Monaco have stepped up their efforts to sign Ince, in recent weeks.
Ince has been one of Blackpool’s star performer since signing for the Tangerines from Liverpool in the summer of 2011.
And with Paul Ince’s long term future in doubt, the possible move has strained relations between father and son, and infuriated the Blackpool board.
Ince has been in fine form for an underperforming Blackpool, but a move to the tax free haven looks the most likely outcome, were Ince would be joining an ambitious rich side, including the likes of Falcao, and a whole host of other top players.
Blackpool could have cashed in on Ince a year ago when they rejected a £5 million offer from his first club, Liverpool, however, they declined a deal.
Monaco have assembled a superstar squad since the takeover of Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev.
Manager Paul Ince’s future has been cast into further doubt, following a 2-0 defeat at Barnsley on Saturday, and the fact he is willing to let his son go, with reports suggesting Ince junior has submitted a written transfer request.
By Ben Reardon
@BenReardon1
