Free agents face an uncertain future, but could become a valuable commodity. RICH SHARPE looks at who Rovers could target this summer

 

GOALKEEPERS

With Christian Walton on loan, and part of Brighton’s long-term plans, he will return to his parent club in the summer. Back-up option Jayson Leutwiler is also out of contract, and could seek more regular game-time with a move away.

Rovers will definitely need one, but most likely two, goalkeepers, having missed out on two overseas options last summer in their bid to replace David Raya.

 They have long-term interest in Sunderland’s Jon McLaughlin, and with the likelihood of seeing the League One season curtailed, ending the Black Cats’ promotion hopes, it’s a deal Rovers would hope to secure relatively quickly.

Scott Carson was linked last summer, before securing a surprise move to Manchester City on loan from Derby County, and sees his deal expire this summer, though the Rams do have an option in his deal. The former England stopper would certainly tick the experience box, but given the expense, would probably have to be deemed first choice were Rovers to move.

Other options, more likely as back-up are Birmingham City’s Lee Camp and Huddersfield’s 24-year-old stopper Joel Coleman.

 

CENTRE HALF

Tosin Adarabioyo was the man Tony Mowbray picked out as Rovers’ best option, albeit on a season-long loan from Manchester City, to help plug the gaps in their defence. The 22-year-old has impressed, but sees his future at a higher level than the Championship and with his current wage and likely price-tag way out of Rovers’ reach, a permanent stay is not an option.

But Rovers will need to recruit, also facing the likelihood too of Charlie Mulgrew moving on.

One option could be Daniel Ayala, a dependable figure for Middlesbrough over a number of seasons. He arrived at Boro just days after Tony Mowbray left as manager, and he has gone on to play 216 times for the club.

There would need to be a compromise on wages should Rovers pursue a move, but his is a name that stands out as an option at centre half.

Another is Frenchman Naby Sarr, of Charlton Athletic. Rovers were in for his former defensive partner, Patrick Bauer, last summer, so would likely have studied Sarr closely as well.

A left-sided defender, coming in to his prime years at 27, he will likely attract interest with Charlton’s uncertainty at board level and the possibility of relegation meaning he could move on.

Another left-sided defender is Brighton’s Leon Balogun who is enjoying a loan spell at Wigan Athletic.

The Nigerian international was a deadline day signing for the Latics, brought in after Charlie Mulgrew opted to cut short his stay at the DW Stadium. Wigan are unbeaten, three wins and three draws, in his six matches for Paul Cook’s side. 

Balogun turns 32 later this month, and while there could be interest from Germany, where he has spent much of his career, he is keen to stay on in England.

 

LEFT BACKS

Rovers will likely look to recruit at left back in the summer, with Amari’i Bell’s future up in the air, though he does have a one-year option in his deal.

They have already been linked with Sheffield Wednesday’s Morgan Fox, who is yet to agree a new deal at Hillsborough.

Fox has played 31 times for the Owls this season, and despite coming in for criticism earlier in the season, appears to have won the home faithful around to become a dependable figure at left back.

George Friend’s injury record will work against him, having played just six times this season, but the 32-year-old was signed by Tony Mowbray for Middlesbrough where he remains some 286 games later.

Charlie Daniels of Bournemouth is similar, having struggled with injuries of late, and at 33 is in the twilight of his career. He has however, been a solid servant for the Cherries, and has forged a fine career for himself.

 

ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS

With nine goals and 11 assists this season, Burton Albion attacking midfielder Scott Fraser’s statistics certainly stack up. Rovers are no strangers to dipping in to League One for signings, and with Fraser set to move on, he will certainly be of interest to any Championship club.

He spent the early years of his career in the Scottish second tier, but having seemingly cracked League One, will be keen to test himself at the next level.

Rajiv van La Parra is another to have been linked with Rovers, a free agent having left Red Star Belgrade earlier this year. The 29-year-old would fill the out-and-out winger role that Rovers are in need of, but the Dutchman has found it hard to get going in recent years.

A match-winner on his day, and proven at Championship level, it is however two years now since he enjoyed regular football.

 

STRIKERS

They say never go back, and while his exit was a little acrimonious, when he was hot in a Rovers shirt, there was no stopping Rudy Gestede. Now 31, and five years on from leaving Ewood Park, his career hasn’t panned out the way he would have wished.

He has been used off the bench more than starting since 2015, and managed just 15 league goals in that time. Scored 13 times in 2013/14, and managed 22 in 2014/15 to earn his move to Aston Villa, and then Middlesbrough in January 2017, both for £6m.

His fitness record has been questionable, and his wage demands high, but no-one knows more what a fit-and-firing Rudy Gestede can offer. Though file this one under highly unlikely.

The last man to score a Championship goal? Derby’s Chris Martin, who scored his second of the afternoon from the spot against Rovers in their 3-0 win.

The Scot, aged 31, has hit double figures this season and is enjoying something of a renaissance having been previously outcast at Pride Park.

Failed to fire in recent loan spells at Hull and Reading, but has usually been a source of regular goals for Derby since 2013, and in a loan spell at Fulham.

Another striker whose big move hasn’t quite worked out is Sam Winnall. His 11 goals by the halfway mark of the 2016/17 season, earned him a switch to Sheffield Wednesday in the January, but has since managed just five Championship goals for the Owls since.

The Owls have a plethora of strikers on the fringes of things at Hillsborough, including Rovers favourite Jordan Rhodes. Their main man is Steven Fletcher who has scored 13 times this season.

He is out of contract, and a player Rovers were linked with all the way back in 2010. He did spend two seasons playing under Mowbray at Hibernian, but now 33, and given his Burnley connections, that is a likely non-starter.