Blackburn, who have been out of the Premier League since their relegation in 2012, will need something exceptional to return to the top level of football.
With limited funds, Rovers are unlikely to be able to recruit that level of talent, so they must go elsewhere, and they have proven to be adept at doing so in previous years.
Blackburn has a history of producing standout players, like Adam Armstrong, Ben Brereton Diaz, and Sammie Szmodics, who have all made significant advances after joining the club.
They are all players recruited by the club, which takes months of due diligence and can be pricey if done incorrectly, which is probably why Rovers have now placed a greater emphasis on developing their own potential, something they have done well in recent years.
With a category one academy and the potential to provide youth football in Premier League 2, they’re an appealing option for emerging talent, not to mention that they’ve demonstrated in recent years that they will give young players an opportunity in the first squad if they’re good enough.
Harvey Higgins is next in the long line of emerging talent
Harvey Higgins, a teenage star, scored on his U21 debut for Blackburn in just two minutes earlier this week, making him one of the country’s most promising prospects.
Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool are reportedly interested in the 15-year-old, prompting Rovers to remain cautious.
Rovers may feel like they’ve been down this road before, since Rory Finneran just left for Newcastle United despite earning his first team debut at the same age as Higgins.
In recent history, Ashley Phillips left for Tottenham after being predicted to be a future England centre defender, indicating that Blackburn may struggle to retain top players.
They’ll almost definitely be concerned about a repeat of Higgins’ situation, but given Rovers’ history of giving opportunity to talents of all ages, plus Phillips and Finneran’s lack of prospects elsewhere, he could be wise to stay put.
The main concern for Blackburn, however, is that, like Finneran, he will go before they have an opportunity to see if he can help them challenge at the top of the league.
Rovers have a long-standing history of blooding young talent
While Adam Wharton is the most notable Rovers academy graduate in recent years, it’s easy to forget that Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya is also a Rovers academy graduate.
The academy has produced current Blackburn players such as Lewis Travis, Joe Rankin-Costello, Scott Wharton, Hayden Carter, John Buckley, and Harry Leonard, in addition to the well-known Premier League players.
| Notable Blackburn Rovers academy graduates | |
|---|---|
| Name | Current club |
| David Raya | Arsenal |
| Adam Wharton | Crystal Palace |
| Darragh Lenihan | Middlesbrough |
| Ashley Phillips | Stoke |
| Grant Hanley | Norwich |
| David Dunn | Retired |
| Jonathan Walters | Retired |
Tom Bloxham had a taste of first-team football in pre-season and is one of several names, along with Higgins, that Rovers supporters can hope to see on the Ewood Park grass in the coming years.
Producing such talent attracts interest from larger clubs, but for clubs like Blackburn that do not receive parachute payments, selling these players is crucial for the football club’s economic operations.
They’ll be painfully aware of that with Higgins, and as much as there is a lot of interest in him right now, he could be forgotten about with one injury or a downturn in form, given the ruthlessness at that level of the game, with every side looking for the next Jude Bellingham.
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