Blackburn Rovers are now eyeing a summer move for a “very impressive” player, after making contact during the January transfer window.
Blackburn eyeing reinforcements with Championship status in doubt
Following the 2-0 defeat against Norwich City on Saturday, Blackburn remain 22nd in the Championship, inside the relegation zone on goal difference, after Leicester City were handed a six-point deduction for breaching profit and sustainability rules.
The Rovers don’t currently have a permanent manager in place, following Valerien Ismael’s dismissal at the beginning of the month, but interim boss Damien Johnson admitted he was disappointed with his side’s inability to capitalise on their chances against the Canaries.
With the Ewood Park outfit’s second-tier status at stake, getting the next managerial appointment right will be very important, and a number of names have been linked with the job, including Chris Coleman, Leam Richardson, David Wagner, Slaven Bilic and Robbie Savage.
However, despite not having a permanent manager in place, the Championship side are also doing work in the transfer market, and they have set their sights on a midfielder, given that Sondre Tronstad’s contract is set to expire in the summer.
That is according to reliable reporter Alan Nixon (via The Deck), who reveals Blackburn are likely to pursue a summer move for Stevenage midfielder Daniel Phillips, after making initial contact over a deal during the January transfer window.
At that stage, the League One side were demanding £1m for the central midfielder, but given that his contract expires in June, they are at risk of losing the 25-year-old on a free transfer.
Phillips is regarded as a direct replacement for Tronstad, and there are signs he could be capable of hitting the ground running at Ewood Park, regardless of what division the Rovers find themselves in.
“Very impressive” Phillips could be a solid signing for Blackburn
The 26-time Trinidad and Tobago international has been catching the eye for quite some time, being singled out for high praise by reporter Jordan Campbell during his time with Scottish side St. Johnstone.
Since then, the London-born midfielder has gone on to establish himself as an important player for Stevenage, making 22 appearances in League One so far this season, during which time he has averaged 1.9 tackles per game.
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They’re searching for Valerien Ismael’s replacement.
When it comes to Blackburn players who have featured in more than one Championship game this term, only Tronstad and Eiran Cashin have averaged more tackles per game than the Stevenage star, showcasing his defensive solidity.
Phillips may now be ready to test himself at Championship level, so Blackburn should definitely pursue a summer move, regardless of what division they are in for the 2026-27 campaign.
