Blackpool have done their transfer business early after confirming the arrival of Watford striker Ashley Fletcher.
The former Man United forward has joined on a free transfer after his contract with the Hornets came to an end. He spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday but failed to find the back of the net in 28 games.
Fletcher has played in League One before, scoring five times in 21 games for Barnsley in 2016. His arrival at Bloomfield Road is needed as there was a need to recruit in the strikers department after Shayne Lavery left. Last season's top scorer Jordan Rhodes has also re-signed but in his absence, the Seasiders struggled to score.
More business is expected to be done with discussions underway with George Byers about a possible return. He is wanted by Championship and League One teams, but director David Downes has already signed him twice, so he knows what is needed to sign him.
The loan market is something to consider, especially given the success of Karamoko Dembele last season. Dembele had barely played first-team football when he arrived from Brest, but as he left the club in May, Dembele has now got interest from Premier League teams for how he performed at Blackpool.
Neil Critchley has a good record of working with young players and developing them. Before coming a head coach, he was in charge of Liverpool's academy teams, and there are always some young players out there ready to be taken a chance on.
Here, the Gazette looks at some players that were on loan at League Two clubs last season from the Premier League and the Championship. Are these players ready to make the step up? Flick through our pages and tell us if any of these youngsters are worth signing.
1. Brad Hills - Norwich City (Accrington Stanley)
Hills has just come off his first full season in senior football. Standing at six foot and one inch, he is a centre-back contracted to Norwich City. He played 48 times in all competitions last season and was capped twice for the England under-21s team. Hills scored three goals and kept 12 clean sheets, whilst also captaining the team on two occasions. | Getty ImagesPhoto: Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
2. Mo Faal - West Brom (Doncaster Rovers and Walsall)
The 21-year-old spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Doncaster Rovers and then Walsall. He scored 15 goals in total in 53 games across four competitions. Faal has been tipped to make it at the Hawthorns, but one more loan might benefit him. | Getty Images
3. Louie Barry - Aston Villa (Stockport County)
Nine goals and four assists in 22 appearances for Stockport County. They are interested in pursuing a permanent move but if Aston Villa want to keep him, they will want to see him move up the football ladder and so League One is the next step.Photo: George Wood/Getty Images
4. Matthew Craig - Spurs (Doncaster Rovers)
Defensive midfielder that played 20 times for Doncaster Rovers last season. Two assists and a goal whilst playing in a team that only lost twice in the league after he joined. | Getty Images
5. Thimothée Lo-Tutala - Hull City (Doncaster Rovers)
Was an unused substitute for Hull City eight times last season. Moved out on loan to Doncaster, kept nine clean sheets in 20 games. Lo-Tutala is a France under-20 international and was also called up to their under-21 squad. | Getty Images
6. Michael Mellon - Burnley (Morecambe)
Centre-forward that spent the first half of the season on loan at Morcambe. Netted 13 goals in 22 league matches. Moved to Scotland for the second half of the season and got three goals in 14 games. | Getty ImagesPhoto: Getty Images