Summer Scouting: Travis and Blackburn's transfer dominoes

Make sure you check out our previous instalments on the goalkeeper dilemma, full-back options and the profile Rovers need at centre-back.

Sondre Tronstad

Tronstad was undoubtedly the biggest success story from last summer's recruitment drive. The midfielder became a fans' favourite after working his way into the team and became indispensable.

The 28-year-old has quality on the ball from deeper areas but it's the destructive side of the game which excels. He is excellent at breaking play up, stopping counter-attacks and distributing through the lines.

Sondre Tronstad's underlying metrics via Fbref. (Image: Canva)

He was very rarely injured last season but when he was, Rovers missed him. Without Lewis Travis, Rovers missed a senior like-for-like replacement in midfield.

He will definitely be a first-choice pick again next season after a stellar debut season.

Joe Rankin-Costello

It's clear that both Rankin-Costello and John Eustace see central midfield as his best role. What made him great as a right-back was his license to drift into midfield but in Eustace's more traditional set-up, I think he'd be less effective.

Rankin-Costello's performances were excellent last season. He provides brilliant energy as a genuine box-to-box midfielder. Unlike some of the other options, he provides a real goal threat as well.

Keeping him fit is Rovers' biggest challenge. He has a history of hamstring issues and that ruled him out for three months last term, as well as an unfortunate knee issue.

The combination of Tronstad and JRC gives good balance to Rovers' midfield. There is little need to replace either but perhaps improve the depth behind them.

Lewis Travis

It will be very interesting to see what happens with the Blackburn Rovers captain next season.

He strikes you as a very typical 'John Eustace player'. The main reason behind his exit was Jon Dahl Tomasson and with that issue removed, there is no reason why he can't be reintegrated into the squad.

There are other Championship clubs interested after his loan with Ipswich. It will be up to Travis, Eustace and Rovers as to where they see his future, with talks planned.

Personally, I would definitely keep Travis and I think he will stay. He performs best in a double pivot and would offer good competition for Tronstad as the ball-winning midfielder. In tough away games, they could definitely play together too.

Knowing Travis, he will have the bit between his teeth to get his Rovers career back on track, if he does indeed stay.

John Buckley

It's been a tough 18 months for Buckley and this feels like a make-or-break season for him.

Injuries have been an issue, with a knee problem and shoulder surgery ruling him out for large sections. He fell down the pecking order under Tomasson and couldn't oust Tronstad or Rankin-Costello at the end of last year.

There is no doubt Buckley is extremely talented. He's excellent on the ball and adds composure to the team. The challenge for him is to affect games more regularly. He has gone missing too often in the last two years.

At the moment, I would argue the three already mentioned would be ahead of him in the pecking order. But he certainly has the ability to change that.

If more players arrive and game time is limited, he might have to move. But there is nothing stopping him from getting his Rovers career back on track with a good pre-season.

Jake Garrett

Garrett won Rovers' Young Player of the Year but minutes dried up for him in the heat of a relegation battle.

He has just turned 21 and there is fierce competition ahead of him. If Rovers are to play with a two-man midfield, his game time could be limited.

Garrett nearly went on loan last summer and it would not be a huge shock if he did so this year. A full season of regular League One football would do him plenty of good.

He is perhaps at the stage of his career where that would be best. However, there is another uncertainty ahead of him that opportunities could present themselves.

John Fleck

Rovers confirmed they were in talks with Fleck but nothing has been said since. Considering he played 17 league minutes, it was a bit of a surprise.

Fleck has great pedigree but his injury record over the last two years is a concern. With plenty of players fighting for the same positions, do Rovers need him?

One thing in his favour is experience. At 32, he can offer a young dressing room guidance, set standards and be an ally for Eustace.

Looking from within

Rovers have a few midfielders coming through but nobody is on the cusp of seriously challenging the first-team status quo.

James Edmondson signed a new contract earlier this summer and is an exciting midfielder. He is more of a number eight type, a left-footer who is versatile. He scored on his Rovers debut in the 8-0 Carabao Cup win over Harrogate Town.

Harley O'Grady-Macken is highly thought of in the youth ranks too. He has one year left on his pro deal.

Dom Biniek is another who might get a chance in pre-season to train with the group. Rovers have extended his deal by another 12 months.

Do Blackburn Rovers need to sign a central midfielder?

From a purely numbers game, no they don't. Six doesn't fit into two very easily, assuming Fleck stays.

But we don't know for certain what will happen with Travis. It's not inconceivable Garrett could go on loan and Fleck isn't signed on yet. So there is enough potential movement that Rover should be looking for.

What do they need? Well if Travis doesn't stay, they need senior cover for Tronstad. Nobody in the squad could offer his skillset in the second half of the season.

Otherwise, I'd like to see someone who can crash the box. Rankin-Costello is the only midfielder Rovers have who you could see regularly chipping in. That needs to change.

Who should they sign?

With plenty of permanent players in this position, a loan would make sense. There are no stand-out free agents, at the time of writing.

Jack Taylor would be my number-one choice if he was available on loan. The midfielder had limited game time as Ipswich Town earned promotion after joining from Peterborough United last season.

Taylor is a box-to-box midfield type who has an eye for a goal. If he was available, there would be plenty of suitors. If Kieran McKenna is going to use him in the Premier League, it would probably require a change of shape.

Looking at the young, talented loan options, using the relationship with Liverpool makes sense. Bobby Clark is someone who could be ready for his first loan after making his debut for the first team last year,

Clark, the son of Lee, is a forward-thinking midfielder who can also play wide, similar to Andrew Moran.

Rovers have forged good links with the likes of Brighton and other Premier League clubs too. Yasin Ayari has claimed Eustace indicated he would like to bring the midfielder back to Ewood Park next season.