Blackburn are currently in talks to acquire a new defender for boss John Eustace as they aim to maintain their fight for a place in the Championship play-offs at the conclusion of the season.
Blackburn encountered a snag in the season.
Though now sixth in the Championship, Blackburn’s two points from their last five games (two draws and three defeats) is the poorest in the division during that time, and a solution is required quickly.
As it stands, they are still within touching distance of the division’s top six, but their lead over those below them has been reduced to just two points, with three sides on 37 points and Norwich City just a point behind, all with their sights set on leapfrogging Rovers in their own pushes for a play-off spot.
Despite reports that Blackburn are looking to make numerous acquisitions in the January transfer window, John Eustace stated that nothing was finalised yet.
| Fewest points in the last five Championship games | |
|---|---|
| Blackburn | 2 |
| Plymouth Argyle | 3 |
| Luton Town | 3 |
| Watford | 3 |
| Derby County | 3 |
“Nothing at the moment,” he said when asked about transfers ahead of their match against Middlesbrough. “I know the club is working extremely hard to bring some players in, so maybe we can keep doing so and see where it takes us. I’m confident no one will be in before the weekend.”
However, he is eager for that to change, acknowledging that his team requires “assistance” to maintain their play-off hopes: “We are doing the right things, but we must remain positive, and we believe we can be a top team in this league. But we need aid. Hopefully, we can keep that in the direction of where we want to go.”
One of the men he hopes to recruit has been exposed.
Blackburn is in talks about a loan move.
The Lancashire Telegraph reports that Blackburn is in talks with Coventry City about signing defender Liam Kitching.
According to the source, any deal for the defender would most likely be on loan, with Blackburn unwilling to give anything near to the £4 million Coventry paid to sign him 18 months earlier. It is noted that “talks have been ongoing for the last week and at one stage, the deal looked likely”, but that his involvement in Coventry’s most recent game has put the move “in the balance”.
The defender made headlines for all the wrong reasons last season, scoring two own goals in a single game, and he has been out of favour this season.
To date, he has made only seven Championship starts, one of which came under new manager Frank Lampard. The 6 foot 1 defender is a left-footed centre-back who can also play left-back and is regarded as a good possibility to replace the injured Harry Pickering at Ewood Park.
Grant Hanley, however, will not be making the transfer, with the article adding that a move for the defender is “not a deal that Rovers are pursuing at this time”. Could Kitching help Blackburn keep their play-off hopes alive?
Leave a Reply