If Forshaw is the sorta player-coach 5th choice CM then the signing is ok, if he is 3rd choice then it is a problem. I'm worried because we haven't renewed Trav or Tronstad and we still seem likely to get rid of Buckley and JRC.

We haven’t re-signed a first team player on a long term deal for what, two years now? So use that thing called *logic*, Chaddy. We obviously can’t or won’t pay the going rate for our established Championship players.

Think it’s a decent pick up in all honesty. Unless he’s a replacement for either Tronstad or Travis. I can stomach Forshaw as a bit part player, he’s nowhere near as bad as people claim.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/25253573.blackburn-rovers-transfer-latest-ahead-second-summer-deal/ Blackburn Rovers are closing in on their second summer signing after agreeing a deal to sign Portuguese midfielder Sidnei Tavares. Valerien Ismael's side return for pre-season on Monday and the recruitment drive is stepping up at Ewood Park to bolster his squad. Having added Dion De Neve earlier this month and extending Adam Forshaw's contract for another season, Tavares will be their next addition. Rovers always wanted to add another midfielder, with a box-to-box, athletic profile desired by Ismael. Tavares, 23, looks to fit the bill. A deal, reported to be around £2million, has been struck with Primeira Liga side Moreirense. The former Leicester City man will fly over for a medical to sign a long-term contract at Ewood Park. Tavares made 29 appearances for Moreirense last season in the top flight of Portuguese football. To lure him to The Championship seems to be a coup given his standing. The 23-year-old has experience in England, after coming through the ranks at Leicester City. He made two appearances for the senior team before moving to Porto in 2021, predominantly playing for their B team. After a loan at Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer, this has been his breakthrough season after signing for Moreirense last summer. He has played predominantly as a holding midfielder, which will give Rovers another strong option alongside Sondre Tronstad and Lewis Travis. Whilst there is speculation around the long-term future of the midfield pair, with one year left on their deals, Rovers always wanted to add another midfielder on top of their options. They are seen as a key part of Ismael's squad and the club want to keep them. However, until either or both sign new deals, there will be doubts as to whether Tavares is a replacement. With Forshaw also recruited, they now have six options in central midfield. John Buckley was out of favour at the end of last season whilst Jake Garrett's loans at Bristol Rovers and Tranmere Rovers didn't set the world alight. Joe Rankin-Costello can also play that role but struggled for minutes under Ismael too. It feels likely that Rovers will look to offload those that may not feature heavily in that position, whether that's via a loan or permanent exit. Forshaw's return will offer the squad some much-needed experience, with Danny Batth and Andi Weimann not signed up to new deals. Both are still anticipated to join Derby County, which would leave a hole in the squad. Rovers haven't made any progress on advancing a deal for centre-back targets Modibo Sagnan or Mickael Nade. Rovers were hopeful of securing the former several weeks ago but the transfer has not progressed as they'd hoped with the player keen to see if Premier League interest emerges. Legia Warsaw’s Steve Kapuadi is another name on their shortlist but any deal has not gone beyond the interest stage. The same for winger Casper Terho, who has been linked in overseas media this week.

Uh-oh

Could someone put a contract out on Suhail?

That’s not what I asked

Looks like he was on the books at Leicester for 11 years from the age of 9, so would assume he holds British citizenship/passport/something similar

Anyone able to post the LT article? I'm stuck behind pay wall even though incognito etc? Are we close to any other signings?

People comparing him to Nzonzi is wide of the mark. He's not particularly strong on the ball, and not much of a tackler. Much more a flairy player and good passer of the ball.

June 2027 like everyone else, bar De Neve, O'Riordan and Atcheson.

I'm intrigued by Taveres. Somewhat a player in his early career was destined for the big stage with Barcelona tracking him. Seems to of then disappeared and ended up at a poor Portuguese side. Has all the features to be an Nzonzi type signing. Didn't we sign him for a similar fee, if not less? Look how he turned out. It will be good to get some height in the centre of the pitch, especially when Tronstad and Travis are small. He looks like he carries the ball quite well which will benefit us on the counter. Ive got a good feeling about this Mon.

Even for us he should have been

Rovers are a complete anomoly as a Football Club. THE most successful town Club in the UK,the 12th most successful Football Club in England.. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_football_clubs_in_England_by_competitive_honours_won ..this all from a town (only Blackburn) with a population of just some 125,000. A record home crowd of over 62,000 and crowd's seen of 30,40,50k....there are not many Clubs our size,with our resources who can claim that. We hold our own and better most Club's our size...so much to be proud of. ...then along came Venkys.

Ask yourself the question do you genuinely think de keersmaeker was a realistic target?

Again smacks of a lack of ambition, we've gone from De Keersmaecker one of the best midfielders in the Dutch League outside the big 3 teams, to a young Leicester reject who did not even play half the minutes for a mediocre team in the Portuguese League. Assume his time in Leicester academy makes him easier to register somehow.

A player with 2 years left on his contract itl will cost most than that upfront

Rovers is mixed wage bill by the sounds of it with academy grads still on academy wages but no doubt with bonuses, lower paid players in their first contracts or bargain basement signings. Then there'll be a few on average wages and one or two higher earners compared to the others but not in terms of top 10 championship earners. It's an ever evolving mystery but if its remained fairly static over the last few years but the squad size has remained the same that gives a clear indication it isn't a big payroll in Championship terms.

It's absolutely not costing us £1.7m hahaha. £250k + add ons I bet.

Elliot said in his last podcast that it's generally accepted we are "comfortably in the bottom half of the championship" when it comes to financial heft. It's common knowledge, if you choose not to believe it you're only betraying your own naivety.

Don't be pathetic Chaddy. We know that we pay the smallest wages in the division bar Rotherham. Its public knowledge.

Is it's? So you know what every player at Rovers is paid? Sharing that info then Mike? Yes true on a few players I will say like Caulker.

I’m not saying you think those things, I’m talking generally about a large chunk of the fanbase. Have a look at half the PL, I’m not besmirching those clubs, my point is there’s no reason our ambitions shouldn’t be to join them - especially as on the pitch we’ve done very well all things considered the past few years, we really haven’t been far away. Fifteen years of relatively low crowds (due to the owners) and no ambition (due to the owners) has led far too many fans to think that is just how it is - new custodians could put a rocket under this club and those same fans would soon be jettisoning those previous views about little old Rovers.

Low instalments over the course of a contract is probably the only thing they can get past the finance men. Then when it comes to selling Travis they'll probably insist on money straight away but do a discount.