FLW examines five free agents that Blackburn Rovers ought to try to sign before the upcoming campaign.
Blackburn Rovers are in the Championship right now, fighting for their lives.
Since taking over as Blackburn’s manager last month, John Eustace has failed to turn the team around and has seen them struggle at the foot of the standings. Rovers ended one spot outside the playoffs the previous season, but this year has been completely different as they have battled to escape League One football by winning more league games than losing.
Since Blackburn has the best scorer in the Championship on their roster, they may just have enough to survive among the many teams vying for relegation.
The main weakness of Blackburn this season has been their defence, as they are second in the league in terms of defensive record, only inferior to Rotherham United, who are currently at the bottom of the standings. In 35 games this season, Rovers have let up an incredible 62 goals; Eustace will actively work to improve that number in the remaining games of the current campaign and the upcoming one.
Scott Dann
In order to avoid defensive instability come summertime, Blackburn will need to prioritise defensive signings when it comes to summertime. They might just turn their attention to the free-agent market, so Football League World has identified five free-agents that Rovers should target, either now or in the summer. At 37 years old, Scott Dann is still a great squad player in the Championship and would provide the much-needed boost to the dressing room. His top-flight and Championship experience will come in handy at Ewood Park, having made 241 Premier League appearances, most of them with Crystal Palace.
After playing for Blackburn Rovers for more than a century from 2011 to 2014, Dann is no stranger to the club, therefore a return to Ewood Park would be quite welcome.
The centre defender, who isn’t with a team right now, would be the ideal temporary fix to get Blackburn closer to Championship safety. The team would gain more from having him return for the following season even if he doesn’t start many games. He would provide the defence much-needed experience and be able to mentor some of the younger players, such the highly talented Connor O’Riordan.
Tariqe Fosu
Tariqe Fosu, a free agent who was previously at Brentford, is another player who many Championship teams would find attractive. The 28-year-old has been without a club since the second half of the previous season, when he played in the Championship with Rotherham United.
He played a significant role in Brentford’s promotion-winning campaign just three seasons ago, which saw them gain entry into the Premier League. In 39 league games during that season, Fosu recorded four goals and four assists.
Being able to play on either wing or behind the striker would be crucial for Blackburn. He has even played a few games at right back. As Tyrhys Dolan and Sam Gallagher’s contracts may be expiring, Fosu, who plays mostly on the left wing,
Danny Batth would be another excellent defensive option for Blackburn to take into consideration, moving past current free agents and onto players scheduled to become unrestricted in the summer. Although the 33-year-old only joined Norwich in September, his deal is scheduled to expire at the conclusion of the current campaign. With only a few league starts under his belt and most of his time spent on the bench, it appears likely that Batth will leave Carrow Road in the summer.
At centre back, Batth has played in the Championship for more than ten years, primarily with Wolves but also with Middlesbrough, Stoke City, and Sunderland. This season, Blackburn’s defence has been quite concerning; nevertheless, Batth would offer some much-needed stability at the back and, like Scott Dann, his experience would make him a fantastic role model for the younger players in the squad.
In the summer, this really ought to be obvious for Blackburn. Although he hasn’t played much for Norwich this season, he was a key member of the Sunderland team that made the playoffs the previous year. Batth would be a fantastic short-term choice while still having the capacity to produce at a high level in the Championship.
The player’s Leeds United contract ends at the end of the current campaign, and he is now on loan at Middlesbrough. Having frequently put 17-year-old midfielder Archie Grey in front of Luke Ayling, it is evident that Daniel Farke does not envision Luke Ayling starting at right back in the future.
Since joining on loan, he has played every game for Boro at right-back, so the team may try to get him on a permanent contract; but, if that doesn’t work out, Blackburn should take advantage. Ayling would pose a serious threat to Callum Brittain for the right wing-back position, and as mentioned previously, Rovers need to make defensive recruitment their top priority this summer.
Ayling’s pay is the one item that could prevent a settlement from being reached. Capology claims that the right-back
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