Championship side Blackpool will be hoping to get some signings over the line sooner rather than later as they continue to evolve under the stewardship of new manager Michael Appleton.

Considering Neil Critchley's shock departure, the Seasiders moved reasonably swiftly to bring in a new manager and their supporters will be desperate to see the former Lincoln City boss continue to build on the good work Critchley has already started.

However, they do find themselves slightly light in some areas with no signings coming through the door so far this summer, something that is perhaps understandable considering their managerial change.

Bringing in the right players as opposed to rushing to bring in new signings as quickly as possible is the policy at Bloomfield Road - but they will want some fresh blood in before their league opener against Reading in the latter stages of this month.

With this in mind, we're taking a look at eight free agents that could slot in nicely in Lancashire for Appleton's side.

With the Seasiders missing out on Daniel Ballard, they could benefit from having someone who can be just as solid and though he may be a lot older, Bamba could certainly do a job at the back.

Perhaps unlucky to be released by Middlesbrough this summer, he arguably deserves another chance to shine in the second tier if he feels he has another year left in the tank.

He was also unlucky to be behind the likes of Paddy McNair, Dael Fry and Anfernee Dijksteel in the pecking order because he could probably get in most second-tier sides' defences.

Previously at Boro too, the 37-year-old wouldn't exactly need to move himself and his family across the country, so he should be able to settle in quite quickly.

Jeanvier has been unlucky with injuries in recent years - but still played a respectable part for Brentford during the 2018/19 and 2019/20 campaigns and arguably deserves a move to the second tier.

The Seasiders could be the team that offers him a new lease of life - but he's currently on trial at league rivals Reading and this is why they would need to move quickly if they want to secure his services.

At this stage, with plenty of free agents already being snapped up by teams across the division, he's one of the better centre-backs you could get right now and he may even be a starter at Bloomfield Road if he was to join.

Whether they can meet his wage demands remains to be seen - but the Royals are restricted in the wages they can offer this summer so that may give Appleton's side an advantage.

Like Bamba, he could be a decent alternative for Ballard.

With Jordan Gabriel suffering with injury troubles and Dujon Sterling returning to Chelsea, the second-tier side are in desperate need of another right-back to come in and they could potentially move for former Stoke City man Smith.

His departure from the bet365 Stadium came as a surprise to some - but the Potters' loss will be another side's gain with the 30-year-old currently training with Middlesbrough.

However, they are believed to be heavily interested in Ryan Nyambe and this could open up an opportunity for the Lancashire side to swoop in and steal Smith from under Boro's noses.

At this stage of pre-season, the ex-Potter will want certainty sooner rather than later and this is why he could be tempted by a move to Bloomfield Road if the club make him an offer.

This second option was between ex-Bristol City man Danny Simpson and former Boro defender Peltier - and the latter wins the day with more appearances to his name last season.

With Gabriel probably their long-term option on the right-hand side, they may just want a backup option who is happy to sit on the bench at times and fill in where needed.

Peltier filled a similar role at Boro last season and wouldn't just be a good option to have on the right - but also as a centre-back - another position they need to take a closer look at.

Going forward, he actually showed class during 2021/22 but is more renowned for his defensive contributions. This defensive solidity could be useful for the Seasiders.

Although he was released by Swansea City this summer, Smith can still do a job in the second tier and would be a good addition in the middle of the park for Appleton's side.

With Ethan Robson and Grant Ward departing the club this summer and Ryan Wintle being recalled by Cardiff City in January, the midfield area is certainly one that needs to be addressed before the window shuts.

It previously looked as though they were in with a good chance of landing Ebou Adams - but that deal failed to materialise as he went to Cardiff City instead.

Smith may not contribute a huge amount going forward - but can contribute effectively in defence and can chip in with an assist on the odd occasion too.

With the player yet to be snapped up, it shouldn't take a hefty salary offer to lure him to Lancashire either, so it's an addition they could benefit from.

Bacuna would be a solid, if not spectacular addition.

Having plenty of EFL experience under his belt from his time at Aston Villa, Reading and Cardiff City, he certainly has the capability to settle in quickly at Bloomfield Road and this will be important with the new season coming up.

Not only can he play in central midfield as an energetic player, a battler and someone who can distribute the ball reasonably well when on form, but the 30-year-old can also operate as a right-back. That will be useful if they suffer an injury crisis in that area.

Considering his age too, he should have at least two or three more years left in the tank at this level, making him a good medium or long-term addition if they offer him a multi-year contract.

They need to have free-agent wingers on their shortlist because of two key reasons.

Firstly, Josh Bowler could potentially be on his way out of the club this summer amid interest from AFC Bournemouth and the Seasiders may need to cash in this summer considering he only has one year left on his existing deal.

Secondly, a deal for Morgan Rogers isn't certain yet so having a contingency plan in place will be extremely useful.

At 25, former Liverpool man Ojo could be a decent addition to have and though he did spend a chunk of last season on the sidelines, he did play for Millwall during 2021/22 and that should give him some sharpness coming into this upcoming campaign.

At his age, he's probably a more viable long-term addition than others are, with others including Scott Sinclair probably coming to the latter stages of their career now.

Impressing with five goals and seven assists during the 2020/21 season for Cardiff City, he could be a real asset to have at Blackpool if he can replicate that sort of record.

29-year-old Bela is arguably someone that needs to be set free from the shackles of playing as a wing-back - because he could thrive and contribute a lot more going forward if played in an advanced midfield role.

It remains to be seen whether the Seasiders could match his wage demands - but if they can - he's someone they should be looking to get over the line because he already has plenty of second-tier experience under his belt.

He has been reasonably consistent in terms of the number of goalscoring contributions (goals and assists) he has recorded in recent seasons - and if he can maintain that consistency and potentially improve on previous campaigns - this could be an excellent addition.

Wages could potentially be the only issue in terms of this potential deal.