Nzonzi may still have a future at Blackburn Rovers, insists manager (From Lancashire Telegraph)
When news happens, text LT and your photos and videos to 80360. Or contact us by email or phone.
Nzonzi may still have a future at Blackburn Rovers, insists manager
1:00pm Wednesday 22nd August 2012 in Sport
By Chris Flanagan, Sports reporter
STEVEN Nzonzi will not be involved once more when Blackburn Rovers host Hull City tonight – but Steve Kean says he will look to bring the Frenchman back into the squad if a move is not forthcoming before the end of the transfer window.
Having previously been one of Rovers’ most important players, Nzonzi did not feature in their season opener at Ipswich on Saturday or any of their pre-season games after handing in a transfer request.
The 23-year-old was even left out of the club’s training trip to Austria, with Kean saying the player would not play for Rovers again unless he made a statement reaffirming his commitment to the club.
Rovers are prepared to sell or loan Nzonzi but Kean says no offer has been received and admits the situation may have to be reassessed if no move materialises by August 31.
“He’s still under contract and we would have to sit down and talk to him about it,” said the Rovers boss.
“He’s a player who is under contract and he’s a football player, he’s not a football trainer.
“At the moment he’s seeking possibilities elsewhere and I think he’s still keen on moving.
“We’ve been open with his dad, who’s his agent, to say that if a club can meet that valuation and it’s good for us and it’s good for Steven then we’ll consider anything that’s there.
“But I’ve no idea what will happen at the moment.
“At the moment there doesn’t seem to be any bids in.
“We have to see how that develops.”
Another to hand in a transfer request has been Mark Bunn, with Kean admitting the goalkeeper – currently ruled out with a hip injury - could leave after Norwich came in with an improved bid of close to £1m.
Martin Olsson has been linked with a move to Aston Villa but it is understood that Rovers have not received any offer for the Swedish international, who is also currently sidelined following a minor groin operation.
Radosav Petrovic is likely to join Turkish side Genclerbirligi – Rovers’ former UEFA Cup opponents – and any departures could yet affect Rovers’ recruitment plans.
Their priority, however, remains a striker as they yesterday still waited for news about their improved bid for Huddersfield’s Jordan Rhodes.
The Lancashire Telegraph understands that Rhodes and his agent are scheduled to hold a meeting with Huddersfield’s chairman today.
Asked if they had received an answer to the latest bid yet, Kean said: “No, I would rather keep that to the powers that be at Ewood.
“I think when the season is up and running we’ve got to be respectful of other clubs and try to do our business out of the press.”
Asked how many players Kean was hopeful of signing by August 31, he said: “I wouldn’t like to put a number on it, we’re looking.
“Fingers crossed we can keep everybody fit. I think what everybody will see is when we did suffer an injury with Leon Best early on then we immediately strengthened and managed to get Colin Kazim-Richards in.
“You hope to keep everybody fit before the window closes but if some go out, if Rado or Mark Bunn go out, we have to consider who we have inside the squad and potentially strengthen.
“We’ve had an offer for Mark Bunn, he’s put a transfer request in so we’ll have to see how that develops.
“And we’ve given Rado permission to go and speak to another club. That will develop in the next three or four days.”
Kean last week expressed his anger to Venky’s over comments made by Shebby Singh at a meeting with fans.
The Scot said publicly that he was not satisfied with Singh’s apology but Venky’s resisted calls from some within the Rovers hierarchy to remove the global advisor, ahead of the 1-1 draw at Ipswich in Saturday’s season opener.
Asked about his relationship with Singh now, Kean said: “It’s fine. Obviously Shebby had a get together with the fans and things were said, but the only focus now is on games and points.
“When you concede so late on on Saturday you almost feel like you’ve lost, but if we can take three points at home then it becomes a good point.
“The players that played against Ipswich are fully recovered so we feel as though we’ve got a great opportunity to get off the mark in our first home game with three points.”
Comments are closed on this article.

Comments (28)
1:19pm Wed 22 Aug 12
penemo says...
and excuses his lack of tactics and understanding of the game make it impossible for thousands of missing fans to return.
CON MAN KEAN OUT
1:20pm Wed 22 Aug 12
fitz808 says...
1:22pm Wed 22 Aug 12
Dan11 says...
1:23pm Wed 22 Aug 12
fitz808 says...
1:28pm Wed 22 Aug 12
James.NoNayNever says...
../´¯/)
....................
,/¯../
. ................../.
.../
. ............/´¯/'.
..'/´¯¯`·¸
. ........./'/.../....
/......./¨¯\
. .......('(...´...´
.... ¯~/'...')
. ........\...........
......'...../
. .........''...\.....
..... _.·´
............\.......
.......(
..............\.....
........\..
UP YOURS KEAN!
1:35pm Wed 22 Aug 12
dart97 says...
1:35pm Wed 22 Aug 12
Rishtonian says...
1:39pm Wed 22 Aug 12
Morst The 88th Min Heartbreaker of Dingles! says...
.
1) Sign Rhodes.
2) Sack Kean.
3) Sell thousands of season tickets.
.
34th....
2:01pm Wed 22 Aug 12
Crow27 says...
2:01pm Wed 22 Aug 12
OnePostThenTheOther says...
Rather than help him develop, you played him at CH and paired him up with Pedersen and tour pitiful signing "Rado". In the process you have destroyed the lad's enthusiasm and application to that point that, like many other quality players and the majority if fans, he can't stand the sight of you nor the sound of the sh8 that continues to pour out of your mouth.
2:10pm Wed 22 Aug 12
MatthewCA says...
Best of Luck.
2:24pm Wed 22 Aug 12
portolibero says...
Kean Out. Venkys Out. Hendry Out. Anderson Out etc
2:30pm Wed 22 Aug 12
follaldo says...
3:00pm Wed 22 Aug 12
Harwoodstblue says...
3:01pm Wed 22 Aug 12
Rovers 1495 says...
ancast.com/2012/08/f
ootball-blogs/why-pr
emier-league-clubs-s
hould-take-a-gamble-
on-jordan-rhodes?utm
_source=twitterfeed&
utm_medium=twitter
Don't f*ck this one up, Wankys
3:19pm Wed 22 Aug 12
Road Runner Road Runner says...
A quality midfield player sat on the side lines whilst our midfield disappears in effect losing the initiative of the first half.
Are we privy to the actual facts of his exclusion ? No, we are not, but common sense and the desperate need for a bolstered midfield(such as Saturday highlighted) are surely the priorities for the club's best interest not the odious one's ?
IMO, this is not managing the situation correctly by his total exclusion when I'm sure bridges can be repaired, again for the greater good of BRFC ?
I don't believe for a minute that N'zonzi would not pull that B&W shirt on, and I base this on previous dubious situations.
N'zonzi is needed, and again Saturday's post match comments by the odious one revealed this starkly !
N'zoni In - odious one out
Arte et labore
3:22pm Wed 22 Aug 12
benal13 says...
3:28pm Wed 22 Aug 12
srvp28 says...
It's a pity that Venky's didn't know enough about the game to realise that you're a football coach, not a football manager.
3:32pm Wed 22 Aug 12
srvp28 says...
3:42pm Wed 22 Aug 12
garyintandem says...
He's a scary dangerous monster.
3:47pm Wed 22 Aug 12
garyintandem says...
We've got a player in Nzonzi who, after the Norwich away game last year whichhe totally dominatd, I wouldn't have sold for under 15m, now languishing in no-man's lad.
All the other clubs will know he hasn't done any preseason training so won't take the risk, yet he's been alienated towards the new Rovers players by Psycho.The same thing for Rochina.
In Nzonzi and Rochina, properly coached and put into a proper system, can control games and change games in an instant.
Get him fit Kean and get him in the team. He'll cruise through the Championship
COYB
3:59pm Wed 22 Aug 12
Captain Dreckley says...
Kean out, Shebby show us your not just a puppet, sack the muppet
4:44pm Wed 22 Aug 12
benal13 says...
4:57pm Wed 22 Aug 12
bburnrover says...
The money from Petrovic can be used for a defender in case one of Olsson or Dann leave.
5:22pm Wed 22 Aug 12
stick to football says...
We saw it all last season with Samba Givet but dont take our word for it - go and ask the Corporate customers who have disappeared like snow off a dyke and they will tell you exactly the same.
Opening game of the season tonight and it feels just like it has for 18 months - diabolical low expectation and fear of another relegation battle ahead while we are managed by the present incumbent
5:29pm Wed 22 Aug 12
A Darener says...
6:19pm Wed 22 Aug 12
merlinrabbit says...
10:30pm Wed 22 Aug 12
RUinsane says...