Unsurprisingly, given the success of Jean Paul van Hecke, Reda Khadra and Ryan Giles, Blackburn Rovers are planning to make good use of the loan market once again this summer.
“100 per cent. We would always prefer to sign a player permanently but, also, we have to be aware of the riches the Premier League clubs have within their academies,” new director of football Gregg Broughton tells Lancs Live.
“If there’s someone there we feel can come in and make an impact, then we’d be stupid not to look at that.”
Given the extend of the rebuilding project facing Broughton and new head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson – both of whom have arrived at Ewood Park this summer from Scandanavian football – a couple of short-term, low-cost additions would come in very handy indeed.
A Blackburn side who finished just six points adrift of the play-offs under Tony Mowbray last term have already lost assist-machine Giles, wing wizard Khadra and Player of the Year Van Hecke. Ian Carlo Poveda and Deyovaisio Zeefuik have departed too. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg.
Major changes at Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn have also bid emotional farewells to captain Darragh Lenihan and playmaker Joe Rothwell, as well as the versatile Jacob Davenport and the experienced Bradley Johnson. Broughton believes that right-back Ryan Nyambe would suit Tomasson’s tactical approach down to the ground (LT) but he, like Lenihan and Rothwell, will also become a free-agent on July 1st.
As a result, at least five members of Blackburn’s best XI are either heading for the exit or gone already.
But it’s not all bad. Honestly.
“There is money available (for) transfer fees. We have a healthy budget, within the same wage budget we had last year,” adds Broughton. “We are really looking forward to bringing in players to supplement the great group of players that we’ve got.”
The arrival of Todd Cantwell from Norwich City would certainly help turn those frowns upside down. One of the most gifted attackers in the Championship, Cantwell was linked with a £30 million move to Liverpool just two years ago. If he can recapture the form he showed during Norwich’s otherwise miserable 2019/20 Premier League campaign, the so-called ‘Dereham Deco’ could be one hell of a signing, especially if Norwich are willing to let Cantwell go on loan (The Sun).
What’s more, Cantwell would help replace the creativity and ball-carrying ability that followed Rothwell out the door.
Defensive reinforcements required
Matthew Sorinola would be another exciting addition. The former MK Dons left-back, linked via TEAMtalk, helped Union Saint-Gilloise come within touching distance of the Belgian title last term. Sorinola would be a perfect fit for the 3-5-2 formation Tomasson preferred at Malmo. As would another attack-minded leftie linked with Rovers; Huddersfield Town’s free-scoring full-back Harry Toffollo (TEAMtalk).
A commanding centre-half is a must after the painful departures of Lenihan and Van Hecke. Jake Clarke-Salter opted for QPR instead, per The Sun. Blackburn’s Premier League contacts could come in handy here. So could Tomasson Malmo connections.
Anel Ahmedhodvic, the one-time Nottingham Forest youngster, shone under the Danish legend in Sweden.
And Ahmedhodzic is now certain to leave Bordeaux after the cash-strapped club were relegated to the third tier of French football. The highly-versatile Jo-Inge Berget is another Tomasson may consider, especially with Nyambe’s departure leaving a hole on the right-hand side. Berget, formerly of Cardiff City, is entering the final few months of his Malmo contract.
Will Ben Brereton-Diaz stay at Ewood Park?
In John Buckley and captain-in-waiting Lewis Travis, Blackburn still have two excellent Championship midfielders. Gifted forwards Dilan Markanday and Ryan Giles should make a far bigger impact during their first full seasons at Ewood Park too. Furthermore, reports linking Celtic and Rangers with Tyrhys Dolan, one of the EFL’s rising stars, have been played down north of the border.
And while Ben Brereton-Diaz, last season’s 22-goal top scorer, has plenty of admirers, those Premier League suitors now appear to be looking elsewhere after Rovers extended his contract Regardless of whether or not Brereton-Diaz stays or goes, don’t be surprised to see Blackburn linked with Erik Botheim.
The skilful Norwegian striker is a free-agent after leaving Krasnodar. And he’s well known by Broughton from their time together at Bodo/Glimt. According to TEAMtalk, Botheim has Championship admirers.
The Blackburn side that kicks off the new Championship campaign at the end of July will look very different from the one that finished eighth under Mowbray in May. The question, however, is whether it will be better, worse, or pretty much the same.
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