Blackburn Rovers will look to bolster their squad in the January transfer window, with a striker and a winger the priority, The Lancashire Telegraph can reveal.
John Eustace wants to add further to his ranks in the New Year and there have been positive noises that there will be some funds available to do so.
Rovers spent around £2million in the summer window but sold Sam Szmodics for an initial £9million. That was on top of the £22.5m package agreed for Adam Wharton in the January transfer window.
Whilst Rovers officials have been quick to highlight that these fees are not paid in one go, neither are incoming transfers. There is no suggestion that there will be a January splurge but initial indications are there is room for manoeuvre.
READ MORE: ROVERS' STANCE ON JANUARY RECALLS
Rovers signed nine new players in the summer, plus the return of Kyle McFadzean on a new contract. They came in batches of five at the end of July and then in the last week of the window.
It is quite clear that adding more goal-scorers should be the priority and it's understood that the club shares that view. Makhtar Gueye and Yuki Ohashi have not scored since mid-September, even if they have shown glimpses of promise at various times.
There is also the consideration that both, but particularly Ohashi, could burn out as they adapt to a new country and league. The Japanese forward was already halfway through the J-League season when he arrived and has been part of the last two Japan national team squads.
Harry Leonard is being drip-fed back into the first-team picture and Eustace is very keen not to expect too much, too soon.
Therefore a striker with some level of Championship background is desired in January. That could possibly have a domino effect for Leonard, in regards to a loan, but that is conjecture at this stage.
Rovers would like to sign another winger who can bring more pace to the team. Amario Cozier-Duberry was viewed as an addition that could offer that but he's yet to make a Championship start due to injury and selection.
The on-loan Brighton & Hove Albion winger was set to make his first league start against Swansea City, only to pick up an ankle injury in training the day before the fixture. He has not been available since but should be after the current international break.
As a result, Rovers have been lacking a speedy option on the flanks. Eustace was particularly keen to sign a left-winger in the summer but that did not materialise. Martial Godo was a deadline-day target but that deal fell through, though it's thought he wasn't a first-choice target anyway.
There are no immediate plans for outgoings though new faces could trigger that. It will also depend on whether any player pushes to leave the club directly. Eustace is thought to be well-liked and respected, even by those on the fringes.
John Buckley and Arnor Sigurdsson are two interesting cases. The latter is out of contract in the summer and has struggled with injuries and form in 2025. The arrival of another winger could push him down the pecking order and give both player and club a decision to make.
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