Summer Scouting: Addressing Blackburn's biggest priority

Make sure you check out our previous instalments on the goalkeeper dilemma, full-back options, the profile Rovers need at centre-back, dominoes that could fall in midfield and solutions to a two-year problem out wide.

Sam Szmodics

Not a number nine but this was the best fit for him, having finished the season as the more advanced player in Eustace's 3-4-3 shape.

Much will hinge on whether the Championship's top-scorer leaves. If Rovers receive an acceptable bid from a Premier League club, which I believe should be between £10-15m, then nobody will stand in his way.

At 28, it's a fine balance between ensuring Rovers get value but also accepting his stock may never be this high again. This feels like the big chance for Szmodics to make the leap to the Premier League but also Blackburn's chance to get serious value from him.

That said, he might go on to score another 30 goals next season. He kept the team in the league and replacing him would be a monumental task.

Szmodics' subtly of movement is perhaps his best trait. He doesn't play as a nine yet scores most of his goals running through on goal against the goalkeeper. His finishing improved remarkably last season, outperforming his non-penalty expected goals tally by five in the league.

His personality and character bring almost as much as the goals. If he is to leave, then Rovers have an almighty task ensuring he's replaced.

Sam Gallagher

Blackburn Rovers have a big decision to make on Gallagher, with 12 months left on his deal.

The striker is one of Rovers' top earners and clearly holds value, with the club knocking back bids up to £1.5million in January from Ipswich Town. The Tractor Boys are, reportedly, still interested.

Rovers are a better team with Gallagher in it; they don't have any better options. Whilst he has never scored more than nine in a league campaign, he does bring more to the table than that. He is a very good presser, works hard for the team and is a physical nuisance at the top end of the pitch.

Sam Gallagher's underlying stats via Fbref. (Image: Canva)

But considering the financial outlay, his injury record, his age, and that he hasn't hit double figures, Rovers do have a decision to make.

I think, in an ideal world, he'd sign a new deal on reduced terms which would still give Rovers the funds to get another striker, unless a decent offer is made. If someone comes in with upwards of what Ipswich offered, they would have to seriously consider it.

They have been over-reliant on Gallagher for too long. Signing a number nine was last summer's priority and they didn't solve it.

Semir Telalovic

It just hasn't worked out, has it?

For a multitude of reasons, Telalovic is yet to break his duck in English football. His signing was a gamble but it hasn't paid off yet.

Rovers didn't pay big money for him, it was a shot in the dark. But he's been unable to convince two head coaches that he's up to Championship standard so far.

Jon Dahl Tomasson didn't start him until December whilst John Eustace used his sparingly even in games where Rovers needed a goal. He will argue that he hasn't been given a run of matches or a fair crack of the whip.

Let's see what pre-season holds but a loan move might be best, especially if Rovers are going to sign at least one striker.

Harry Leonard

For a breakout season, I think Leonard can be pretty pleased with what he produced. Particularly in the first half of the season, where he scored his three Championship goals.

The 20-year-old looked more than capable of leading the line in most of his starts. He had some quiet games but so he should, he is a young, exciting prospect.

His hold-up and link-play is far beyond his years. Leonard is excellent with his back-to-goal. There needs to be some refinement in his finishing but that, again, is to be expected of a young forward.

A back injury ruled him out of the final months, where he'd have certainly been a useful bench option. I would keep him around next season and continue to drip him in and out of the team.

Looking from within

Rovers don't have anyone ready to make the step up from the Academy, it's a fairly youthful number nine pool.

Junior Nsangou is an exciting young forward but he is only 18 and played his first season of Under-21s matches this time around.

Do Blackburn Rovers need to sign a striker?

It's priority number one. They have to add more goals to the team and that is what Eustace is looking for in the transfer window.

When you factor in the possible exits of Szmodics and Gallagher, Rovers have to be on the front foot in this area. They simply can't afford to take risks on unproven players, especially if either leave.

Telalovic may need a loan to try and restore some value and confidence. I would keep Leonard around as a rotation option with the view to a January loan if he isn't playing enough.

If they play 4-2-3-1, another number 10 option would be desirable too after losing Andrew Moran and Yasin Ayari.

Who should they sign?

Tom Cannon should be the number one target, in my opinion. That doesn't mean they'll get him, even if he's available because half of the division will want him too.

Cannon barely played last season for Leicester but still looked impressive when he did start. I can't see him getting much of a kick in the Championship.

He plays on the shoulder, has good pace to stretch the defence and he can finish. I'm sure the competition would be fierce but he'd be my dream addition up front.

Likewise, Ali Al-Hamadi would be a great addition but it's unclear whether Ipswich would let him leave on loan. Perhaps there's a deal to be struck if they want Gallagher? Who knows.

He has the right physical profile and can score goals. He's only had six months at Championship level, having signed from AFC Wimbledon in January, so the leap to the Premier League might be a bit steep for him, aged 22.

It will be interesting to see what Luton Town do with Joe Taylor too. He scored 10 goals in 19 games for Lincoln City at the end of last season, having also impressed at Colchester United. He's only 21 and Luton might want to keep him around as rotation for Carlton Morris and Elijah Adebayo.

In the free agent market, there isn't much around, but I would not be complaining if Eustace took a punt on Tyreese Campbell, let go by Stoke City.

He was once attracting Premier League interest but has struggled to reach the same levels after a serious knee injury. He can play off the right, as a left-footer, or down the middle. He's only 24 and it feels like there is a lot of untapped potential still there, if the right manager gets hold of him.

Rovers had a long-standing interest in Liam Cullen at Swansea City, who has one year on his deal. Whether they act on that under a new recruitment team, I don't know, but it's one to potentially keep an eye on. He is more in the Campbell mould, technical, diminutive and able to play across the front line.