Blackburn's transfer chase that hinges on contract decision

Dom Hyam

Dom Hyam was incredibly reliable for Blackburn Rovers last season, playing every minute in the Championship. He was one of only three outfield players to do so.

Triggering the contract extension in his deal was a no-brainer for the club with that considered. Since joining in the summer of 2022, he has missed very few matches and that durability is important for Valerien Ismael.

Hyam's performance levels have been very consistent. Last season, he was much closer to the standards he set in his debut campaign which saw him win Player of the Year.

Though now 29, Hyam seems to perform better when he has an experienced defender alongside him. Danny Batth brought the best out of him last season and the defence looked most solid when that was the pairing in the middle.

Hyam is more of a reactive defender. He tends to use his intelligence to read the game and react, rather than engage in a large volume of duels or make lots of tackles.

Dom Hyam's defensive stats against his Championship peers. (Image: Fotmob)

His aerial win percentage is very high but he scores best for recoveries and commits few fouls, compared to his Championship peers at CB.

Hyam has one year left on his contract after his option was triggered. After proving his reliability last season, adding another year would make plenty of sense.

Hayden Carter

Hayden Carter has the potential to be Blackburn Rovers' best centre-back but injuries hampered him in 2024/25. It is not the first time the defender has suffered issues.

He was unfortunate with a knee injury that kept him out for four months after surgery. Carter returned but then missed the final seven games of the season with a calf problem, returning to the bench for the final game of the season.

Having also missed three months of the season before with a hamstring issue, it is a small concern that Carter keeps picking up these problems. It could just be bad luck but it's going to potentially hold him back.

When available, Carter has been fantastic. His skillset is the most scalable to Premier League level. He's a good passer but his best asset on the ball is his ability to carry it up the field. That's important when the opposition is trying to cut passing lanes and helps Rovers break through the opposition's press.

He has bulked up a lot in the last few years and is a physically imposing figure. Carter's the most mobile of Rovers' defensive options and so allows them to play slightly higher up the pitch and be more aggressive with their defensive line.

Carter is now 25 and so he isn't a young defender. He'll be approaching his prime years shortly and needs a full season outside of the treatment room. If he can manage that, he has the potential to interest clubs higher up the pyramid and become Rovers' best asset.

Danny Batth

It would be a huge blow to lose Danny Batth, in my opinion. Rovers have offered him a new deal but there's been no breakthrough in contract talks and there is growing concern he might leave.

Despite being 34, Batth keeps himself in great condition and only had one period out of the team through injury last season. He played 37 times, completing more than 3,000 minutes. You will struggle to find many players of his pedigree with that level of reliability.

Batth brought the best out of Hyam and is a leader with bags of Championship experience. If he does depart, Rovers will need to sign a right-sided defender to replace him. Any recruit will likely be more expensive or lack the same qualities Batth possesses.

Until there's any official confirmation, Rovers can retain Batth. It would be a tough job to replace him with similar quality that wouldn't eat into their transfer budget.

Scott Wharton

Scott Wharton is expected to return for pre-season after more than a year out with a serious knee injury. It will be fantastic to see him back out on the pitch.

Rovers are taking a sensible approach and don't want to put too much pressure on him too soon. The defender will need time to get his match fitness and can't suddenly be expected to play three league games in a week straight away.

We don't know what condition Wharton will come back in, or how his body will cope with the stress of Championship football again. Caution is the best approach and that is the route Rovers are taking.

Looking from within

Connor O'Riordan returns from his loan at Crewe Alexandra. Nobody really knows what's next in store for him after a difficult 18 months. Will they give him an opportunity or will he be farmed out again?

Tom Atcheson is well thought of and has been on the bench for Championship games before. He signed a four-year deal last November and had a loan spell with Marine until January.

George Pratt signed a new one-year deal after recovering from 18 months out with a broken tibia. He finished the season at centre-back for Mike Sheron's Under-21s.

Max Davies has one year left on his first professional deal and is highly rated too. He was around Jon Dahl Tomasson's pre-season group two years ago.

Do Blackburn Rovers need to sign a centre-back?

We know Rovers are trying to sign a left-sided defender, with talks ongoing for Montpellier's Modibo Sagnan. Saint-Etienne's Mickael Nade is another option too.

Signing a left-sider makes sense considering Ismael may want to try a three-man defence at some stage. Wharton is the only player who is natural in that position and will need time to reacclimatise after injury.

Many head coaches like to have a left-footer, whether that be a back four or a three-man rearguard. Harry Pickering could also fulfil that role but having a specialist is ideal.

If Danny Batth were to leave, Rovers would surely need another defender on top of that. It would be a risk to have only Dom Hyam and Hayden Carter as right-sided options given the former's recent injury problems.

Who could they sign?

Premium: Callum Doyle would be a great signing to fit the bill of left-sided defender. He has had Championships loans at Coventry City, Leicester City and Norwich City, impressing in the middle and at left-back.

It's unlikely that Manchester City would resist any attempts for a permanent deal or even a fourth second-tier loan move. If Rovers were to buy him, he wouldn't be cheap.

On the right side, Harry Darling is available as a free transfer but would require a hefty wage contribution. He is yet to sign a new deal with Swansea City as several promotion-chasers are thought to be interested in signing him.

21-year-old Christ Makosso impressed for Luton Town despite their relegation. Again, wouldn't be cheap but their drop to the third tier could help?

Loan: Mason Holgate has been doing the rounds in the Championship, spending last season against West Brom. He is versatile and could perhaps offer another option to Rovers.

Nikola Katic impressed in the second half of the season at Plymouth Argyle too.

Free: There are some decent options at centre-back for right-sided players. Semi Ajayi is leaving West Brom and has been a reliable player at Championship level for a number of seasons.

Jimmy Dunne would fall into the Darling category as free but expensive. Queens Park Rangers want to keep him but Sheffield United are also keen.

Akin Famewo is the best of the Championship left-sided options. He's out of contract at Sheffield Wednesday and has shown promise but does have recurring injury issues. Probably best to look in Ligue 1, Rudy.