English Premier League new boys Blackpool could be set to bid for Paddy McCourt a second time. The Northern Irishman is a target for Ian Holloway’s side as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of their first season in the English top flight.

According to a report in the Sunday Mail, the Seasider’s have already seen one bid of £350,000 rejected for the winger but are preparing to return with an improved offer. The 26-year old is currently on Celtic’s pre-season tour of North America but may return to find that the club are prepared to let him move on for the right price.

McCourt’s place in the squad for the matches across the Atlantic show he does see a place for him at Parkhead next season but it is unlikely that he will be making the step up from fringe player to first-team regular. The former Derry City player started the match against Philadelphia in the States but was an unused substitute against Manchester United on Friday night.

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Signed by Gordon Strachan in 2008, McCourt has made sporadic appearances in the Hoops but has failed to cement a starting place. Impressive individual goals against Falkirk and St Mirren last season showed that the flair player has something to offer Celtic but that ability has also attracted the interest of Blackpool who will be hoping they can lure him with the opportunity to play against the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United.

Celtic are said to value the winger at £750,000 and although Blackpool are not big spenders compared to some Championship clubs, never mind their top flight rivals, that fee is unlikely to rule them out of a move. The transfer may ultimately come down to McCourt’s own preference.

Though the arrival of Joe Ledley will increase the competition for a starting spot, with new signing Efrain Juarez also capable of playing in the midfield, McCourt may feel he can still force his way into Neil Lennon’s first team.

The admission that Aiden McGeady seems ready to quit the club and move to England leaves the Celtic manager with a lack of players whose natural tendency is to carry the ball past opponents and McCourt’s bag of tricks may fill that gap if McGeady moves on. The chance to play European football would also be likely to figure in McCourt’s thinking if an offer is accepted though Holloway will point to Charlie Adam as an example of a player who has blossomed since moving to Blackpool.