Fleetwood Town boss Joey Barton has claimed that he would welcome back former striker Ched Evans but the decision is out of his hands according to the Blackpool Gazette.
Evans has been transfer listed by current club Sheffield United as he is deemed surplus to requirements at Bramall Lane following their return to the Premier League.
Barton would like to add forward Evans after bringing back former loanees Lewie Coyle and Harry Souttar from Leeds United and Stoke City respectively.
The Fleetwood boss said: “We are a little bit light in that striker zone with Ched and Ashley Nadesan leaving in the summer.”
“It is an area we are looking to strengthen but it will depend what the other clubs really want to do. Financially it is difficult for us to dictate to anybody what to do with their players.”
Evans spent last season on loan at Fleetwood and scored 18 goals in 41 appearances in all competitions as he struck up an impressive partnership with fellow striker Paddy Madden.
The duo produced a 37-goal partnership for Town last season with Madden edging out Evans in the top scorer stakes and Madden would love his partner to return to the club.
“He got 18, I got 19; we nearly had a 40-goal partnership there. I’m not going to lie, it would be nice if he did come back but I think we did complement each other well.”
“But Conor is back, raring to go and looking sharp so good options up there if Ched does come back. If he wants to come back we would all be delighted.”
Fleetwood finished 11th in League One last season and are hoping to improve on a mid table finish in the upcoming campaign.
