EXCLUSIVE: Ince set to gamble on Monaco move after talks with French club in London
* Tom Ince set to join Ligue 1 side Monaco from Blackpool
* His dad Paul, his manager at Blackpool, drove him to London for talks
* Blackpool set to get just £155,000 in compensation
* PSG, Ajax, Inter Milan, Spurs and Swansea all interested in Ince
* He could join the likes of Radamel Falcao at Monaco
Monaco look like they have won the race for England Under 21 winger Tom Ince after setting up talks with him in London on Thursday.
Blackpool boss Paul Ince drove his son to the capital to meet Monaco representatives for discussions over a pre-contract deal to join the French club at the end of the season.
There was confusion at Blackpool over Ince Snr’s whereabouts after he pulled out of a press conference ahead of Saturday’s Championship game at Barnsley. It is believed he was also due to meet chairman Karl Oyston to discuss transfer targets.
Out of contract: Ince's Blackpool deal expires in the summer and he is free to talk to foreign clubs
United front: The Inces have been working together since Paul took over Blackpool in February 2013
Instead of talking to the press, he responded to a request from Monaco to meet Tom, who is out of contract in the summer and has been free to talk to foreign clubs since January 1.
Oyston has stood by his manager so far but the Monaco move for Blackpool’s top scorer with seven goals this season is bound to test their relationship.
Ajax and Inter Milan are the other continental clubs pursuing the former Liverpool prospect, while Swansea and Tottenham have expressed interest in offering him an opportunity in the Barclays Premier League.
But wealthy Monaco are in pole position after holding negotiations over personal terms and outlining their plans for trying to challenge Paris Saint-Germain at the top of the French league.
With Tom a free agent in the summer, Blackpool look likely to be left chasing around £155,000 in compensation, whereas they could claim up to £4million at a tribunal if a deal was struck with an English club.
The move comes as boss Ince calls on Oyston to provide funds, with Blackpool down to just 12 fit first-team regulars. They have made enquiries about Leeds’ Luke Varney and Cardiff’s John Brayford.
Oyston revealed Ince had handed him a list of more than 20 transfer targets, yet no new signings have been made. Ince said: ‘I’ve sat down with the chairman to see who we can bring in. It’s not easy because in January everyone wants to wait until the end of the window to make their move.
‘We need quality and we need people in. But all these things cost money and unfortunately we aren’t prepared to do that.’
The Blackpool boss is under pressure after a run of eight defeats and a draw, yet has vowed not to quit. He was booed after Saturday’s home defeat by Middlesbrough, while fans also unveiled a banner demanding that Oyston quit.
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