New Blackpool manager Mick McCarthy is plotting to add Cardiff City centre-back Curtis Nelson to his ranks at Bloomfield Road before the transfer window slams shut on Tuesday night.

That is according to Football Insider, who claim that the two struggling Championship sides are in talks for the 29-year-old to take him from South Wales to Lancashire.

The Seasiders are yet to add to their squad since McCarthy arrived last week to replace Michael Appleton in the dugout, but it is believed that fresh options at the back are being tracked, having missed out on Burnley's Luke McNally to Coventry City.

McCarthy has now set his sights on Nelson, who he managed in 2021 whilst manager of the Bluebirds.

Nelson arrived at Cardiff in 2019 from Oxford United and during McCarthy's time as manager he was an ever-present in the starting 11, but this season under both Steve Morison and Mark Hudson he has been a bit-part figure.

Linked with in-form League One outfit Derby County in recent weeks, Nelson' contract with Cardiff expires at the end of the season, and the club are willing to strike a deal now with Blackpool for the defender to exit on a permanent basis.

The Verdict

With Rhys Williams heading back to Liverpool following his up-and-down loan deal, Blackpool are very short at centre-back, hence their move for Nelson.

It is a move that makes sense for all parties, with more experience needed at the back and McCarthy clearly trusting him due to their relationship at Cardiff.

With the amount of loans that Blackpool currently have in their squad, most of the deals they will want to do between now and Tuesday will have to be full-time ones, and getting Nelson over the line shouldn't be too complicated.

There could theoretically be late interest from other clubs, but you'd have to imagine that the McCarthy factor could sway Nelson's decision in that instance.