Stephen Bradley says Blackpool are “serious” about Andy Lyons and that talks between the two clubs are ongoing.
The Shamrock Rovers manager’s comments on Monday suggest that a deal between the two clubs could be struck before the end of the summer transfer window.
But Bradley is certain that the Ireland Under-21 ace won’t lose focus when it comes to Tuesday night’s Champions League clash with Ludogorets Razgrad.
“They’ve obviously contacted the club, Blackpool, and there have been discussions,” Bradley said.
“We’ll just see how they go over the next while.
“He has been brilliant for us, Andy. His form has been fantastic. And that form obviously warrants the interest that he has had from Blackpool.
“We’ll just see how that one plays out over the next while.”
The Championship side have twice had bids - of approximately €120,000 and €240,000 - rejected by Rovers.
And while reports over the weekend suggested that they had turned their attention to other targets, Bradley said: “They are serious (about Lyons).
“Themselves and Stephen McPhail have been speaking the last week or so, so they are serious, yeah. They have real interest in him.”
As for Tuesday night’s clash with Ludogorets, Lyons is likely to play a key role at wing-back as Rovers attempt a miraculous comeback from 3-0 down.
“He’s fine, he’s brilliant,” said Bradley, dismissing the idea that Lyons’ mind might be elsewhere.
“One of the things you know when you meet Andy is he is a proper kid, really principled and focused, no nonsense.
“He gets on with his job, he wants to learn, wants to improve, he doesn’t get caught up in any of the nonsense that a lot of players can do.
“So I have no real fears there in terms of him focusing.”
While Lyons is set to start in Tuesday’s second-leg, centre-half Roberto Lopes will miss out as he awaits news on the knee injury he picked up in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Drogheda United.
Ireland midfielder Jack Byrne is also on the absentee list.
“Pico is going for a scan tomorrow,” Bradley explained. “He’s definitely out tomorrow. We'll have to wait for the scan to see how it is.”
He added: “It’s a blow. He's been brilliant for us. He’s a real leader.
“I’ve no doubt that he will stay around training and around the dressing room (during recuperation).
“In my opinion he’s the best centre-back in the country. So, any team would miss him and we’re no different.
“We don’t know (if it’s a long-term injury). We have it in a brace at the moment to steady it But they don’t really know until we get the scan.
“He could be back playing Friday or we’re not sure. We have to listen to the docs and medics and trust it.”
Byrne, meanwhile, has suffered another setback on his road to recovery.
“Jack won’t be involved tomorrow. He won’t be involved Friday. Hopefully he’s back next week,” explained Bradley.
“We had a little setback with him. We thought he was okay but it’s not quite settled.
“It’s more his hip-flexor/stomach at the moment. It was originally his calf, but he was back (from that).
“After the Malta game he just didn’t feel right. Then in training the night before Ludogorets he didn’t feel right again.
“So we knew. With Jack it’s very unusual that he goes down with any sort of injury. When he said he was sore we knew it was something.
“Hopefully, next week he will be back training.”
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