Blackburn Rovers have been urged to prioritise the signing of a striker and a winger above a deal for Middlesbrough midfielder Dan Barlaser.
Rovers are reportedly competing with Derby County to sign the Boro midfielder, who has battled to establish a starting position at the Riverside Stadium this season.
The Rams have already signed Middlesbrough defender Matt Clarke and are considering a double move for Barlaser.
However, Blackburn appears to have put their hat in the ring, as Rovers manager John Eustace tries to bolster his sides’ play-off hopes heading into the last few months of the season.
So, would signing Barlaser be a positive move for Blackburn? Or will it be a disappointing piece of business? We approached our Rovers fan commentator, Simon Middlehurst, for further information.
Blackburn Rovers told to focus on attacking additions
Middlehurst believes Barlaser would be a positive addition to Blackburn if the trade is done.
“The fact that it’s someone with Championship and League One experience, as well as adding to an already small squad. The only question is, where does he slot into that midfield area?
“Especially when your favourite options are Lewis Travis and Sondre Tronstad, who is now injured but expected to return soon. We obviously have Adam Forshaw and John Buckley in there.
“I’m not sure where he fits in that middle. Obtaining a striker remains a top priority for Blackburn. With a striker and a winger, we don’t need another central midfielder.
“However, it would add another member to an already tiny team. So, positionally, he is uninspiring, but as a player, he is a valuable addition to our team.”
Barlaser may struggle to secure starting role with Blackburn Rovers
Following Aidan Morris’ knee injury in mid-November, Barlaser was draughted into Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough midfield, alongside Hayden Hackney.
However, bad performances, wasteful set-piece deliveries, and a lack of energy and bite have earned him harsh criticism from many Boro fans.
In actuality, his performances were insufficient to keep his starting spot, and when Morris returned in mid-January, Barlaser was immediately demoted to his backup spot on the Middlesbrough bench.
| Dan Barlaser’s 24/25 Championship stats (as of 28/01/25) – per FotMob | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appearances | Goals | Assists | Duels won | Aerial duels won | Tackles won | Pass accuracy |
| 19 | 1 | 1 | 44.4% | 38.5% | 10 | 89.5% |
As a result, the 28-year-old does not appear to have a long-term future at the Riverside Stadium, and with Boro looking to acquire another central midfielder before the conclusion of the transfer window, he might find himself firmly down the pecking order if he stays in the North East.
But if he arrives at Ewood Park, he will not find a Rovers midfield in trouble. Quite the reverse in fact. Travis, who has been out for almost a month, is expected to return to the Blackburn starting lineup if he is deemed fit to play 90 minutes without complications.
Forshaw is a seasoned Championship warrior, whereas Buckley has established himself as a competent second-tier player in recent years.
Eustace has plenty of depth in his engine room, and given Barlaser’s difficulties at Middlesbrough this season, he may end up on Blackburn’s bench instead.
If he were to leave the Teessiders, surely the goal at this point in his career would be to find a place where he could play regularly. In that regard, Ewood Park may not be the ideal fit for him as he considers his next steps.
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