Darragh Lenihan wants to play Premier League football with Leeds United, Aston Villa, Everton and Newcastle queuing up for the Blackburn Rovers captain, as reported by TEAMtalk.
February 1st really can’t come soon enough as far as Tony Mowbray is concerned.
A Blackburn side sitting pretty in the Championship’s automatic promotion positions have come through the transfer market unscathed so far.
Ben Brereton-Diaz, John Buckley and the magisterial Joe Rothwell are still plying their trade at Ewood Park, despite reported interest from clubs on both sides of Hadrian’s Wall.
There’s still four days remaining before the window closes, however. And reports linking Lenihan away from a second-placed Rovers side may be enough to keep Mowbray up at night.
“Lenihan has got the added responsibility of captain,” Mowbray said in December after the Republic of Ireland international helped Blackburn keep five successive clean sheets for the first time since 1996/97 (RTE).
“He’s standing like a man-mountain. Delighted for Darragh. He’s right at the top of his game.
“You can just tell by the way he plays. On the front foot. He’s towering over people six inches taller than him, he’s passing looks so assured. He’s a special footballer.”
Will Darragh Lenihan leave Blackburn for the Premier League?
A ‘special footballer’ deserves a special stage.
According to TEAMtalk, Lenihan dreams of playing Premier League football. Leeds, Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton could offer him the opportunity to do just that.
Wolves boss Bruno Lage has spoken publicly of his desire for a new centre-half. Lenihan’s combination of aerial might and pinpoint passing could make him a perfect fit for Lage’s three-man backline.
Newcastle, meanwhile, are stepping up their pursuit of a new centre-half after missing out on Diego Carlos, Sven Botman and co. Lenihan, a free-agent this summer, will come far cheaper than some of their more high-profile targets.
Of course, there is no reason why Lenihan needs to leave Ewood Park in order to get his chance in the top-flight.
Blackburn are second, three points clear of Bournemouth. Keep a talented squad of players together and there is no reason why Rovers will not be returning to the Promised Land sooner rather than later.
TEAMtalk add that Lenihan could sign a new deal if Blackburn are promoted. That’s a big ‘if’ though.
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