Blackburn Rovers: Transfer deals in doubt as Ayala ban confirmed

KEEPER DEAL IN DOUBT

Rovers’ prospective move for free agent goalkeeper Nikita Haikin is in doubt.

The 27-year-old had looked set to be Rovers’ first signing of the January transfer window at the end of last week.

Haikin is available for a free transfer after his contract with Bodo/Glimt expired at the end of 2022.

The likelihood is that Haikin’s arrival would have seen Aynsley Pears loaned out to give him more regular first-team football.

Pears has played only 13 times since arriving at the club in 2020, while his last Championship appearance came in December 2021.

However, the 24-year-old has impressed in the cup competitions and is understood to have commanded interest in this window, including from League One side Portsmouth.

That looked to be a move in the offing, but Pompey have since moved to bring in Matt Macey on loan from Luton Town for the remainder of the season.

With Pears’ move to Pompey now not going ahead, Rovers have held off pushing the button on the Haikin deal.

That could be resurrected, but would require another move for Pears to come to fruition.

As things stand, Pears looks in pole position to make his sixth start of the season when Rovers host Birmingham City in the FA Cup this weekend.

THE WAITING GAME

Hibernian central defender Ryan Porteous and Brighton & Hove Albion striker Deniz Undav are live transfer targets for this window.

Rovers tabled a six-figure bid for Porteous last week, which Jon Dahl Tomasson confirmed in his pre-match press conference on Thursday.

Porteous, as expected, played for Hibs in their Scottish Cup defeat to Hearts on Sunday and a decision over his future is expected in the coming days.

Rovers’ biggest competition for the 23-year-old comes from Watford and Udinese who are part of the same ownership group. Udinese have previously seen a move for Porteous fall down, but Watford are showing strong interest, with Slaven Bilic confirming the club will be in the market for a defender should William Troost-Ekong move on this month.

Striker Undav meanwhile was an unused substitute for Brighton in their Premier League draw with Leicester City at the weekend.

The financials are understood to be agreed with the Seagulls, with Rovers waiting on the go-ahead from the Premier League club.

Competition from Belgium, where Undav enjoyed a fine season last term, and the prospect of Undav still having a part to play in Brighton’s season are also factors to consider, though boss Roberto De Zerbi did indicate the ‘possibility’ of the German attacker leaving this month.

Rovers are exploring other striking options as a result.

MAYBE NOT EDUN DEAL

Tayo Edun’s proposed move to Charlton Athletic has been placed in further doubt after the Addicks moved for another left back.

The League One side had lined up a January loan move for the 24-year-old and expected it to get over the line.

Jon Dahl Tomasson stated that Rovers wouldn’t be agreeing to any moves with the squad as it is, with Edun featuring on the bench in each of the four matches this year.

Charlton have since secured attacking left back Matt Penney on loan from Ipswich Town.

The 24-year-old was a regular in the first half of the season for Scottish Premiership side Motherwell but was recalled before being sent to Charlton.

Edun is likely to be in the Rovers squad for this weekend’s FA Cup tie with Birmingham City, with Clinton Mola struggling with an ankle problem.

AYALA ABSENCE

Daniel Ayala will serve a one-match ban following his red card in the 1-1 draw at Bristol City.

Ayala was shown a second yellow card by Tim Robinson and dismissed in the 74th minute.

The 32-year-old, who captained Rovers at the weekend, will now miss the FA Cup tie with Birmingham City.

He will be available for Rovers’ next Championship fixture against Wigan Athletic on Monday, February 6.

Ayala hasn’t featured in any of Rovers’ five cup games this season, so he was unlikely to have featured any way at the weekend.

It was Rovers’ third red card of the season, following Jake Garrett (v Coventry City) and John Buckley (v Middlesbrough), however, Garrett’s was rescinded on appeal.

Robinson was also the official on that occasion.

FIRST PREM STARTS

Jan Paul van Hecke and Joe Rothwell both made their first Premier League starts at the weekend.

Brighton defender van Hecke made his Premier League debut in August, but that remained his sole league appearance until being named in the line-up for the game at Leicester City on Saturday.

It was just a fourth senior appearance for the Seagulls for the 22-year-old who played 78 minutes of the 2-2 draw.

Rothwell, who joined Bournemouth on a free transfer in the summer, made his eighth appearance of the season with his first start coming in the 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest.

The 28-year-old played 75 minutes.

FORTUNE FAVOURS ROVERS

Gemma Donnelly felt Rovers Ladies were fortunate to leave Bramall Lane with a point.

Saffron Jordan gave Rovers the lead but they were pegged back on the stroke of half time by the hosts as Tamara Wilcock levelled things up.

Sheffield United looked the likelier of the two sides in the second half, and Donnelly said: “I thought it was scrappy. We were on the back foot for most of it.

“It’s a different team talk at half time having conceded pretty much right on the whistle for half time.

“Second half, I thought Sheffield dominated and we were very lucky to come away with a point.” 

The result leaves Rovers ninth in the standings, with 13 points from their 11 games.

A positive for Rovers was a first appearance in over a year for Emma Doyle on her return from injury.

Praising goalscorer Jordan, Donnelly said: “She's a regular in the team for a reason. She can just create something for you. She’s an experienced player who can make something out of nothing.

“While it was a great through ball from Leeky (Ellie Leek), if you can get Saffron on the end of it, you’re pretty much certain that it’s going to at least hit the target. That’s why she’s a consistent member of this team.”