I can't wrap my head around signing this lad for this quoted fee. He played half the games for a small club in Portugal last season... I know inflation has driven the price of players up but 1.7 million for a lad who only started 15(?) games last season. Something feels off.

Absolutely nailed it there my friend...this is the project. Our shit future under these Goons.

The pattern is obvious, we're following the declared business model. It's not about football and winning games/promotions. The two new signings are young and presumably their data shows that they have a shot at developing and therefore becoming more valuable. On the other hand they may not. It's a roulette game, take a spin. Sign another one and you've a reasonable chance that 1 in 3 will work out then we sell and bank the money somewhere offshore. Who cares if we win matches, what's important is that we pick well as will be evidenced by the fees we receive further down the line. You get promoted by ADDING proven, respected players to your squad. Our signings are business (likely replacement) deals/gambles only. Venky's don't want promotion or relegation, they want Championship status so we can generate self sustaining income by getting lucky on picking up prospects who develop. To paraphrase Tina Turner "What's football got to do with it? What this about winning a promotion".

Chuck Berry - Too Much Monkey Business

Getting subbed off at half time at Millwall and not getting stuck in will always stick in my mind. Pretend hard man

And that is where the departure of Travis will leave us exposed and i don't want to see a return to the Bowyer days where teams regularly strolled through our midfield. People can say what they like about Travis but having a ball winner and tackler in there when he first emerged was like a breath of fresh air. Pansy he isn't.

Travis will be sold and so will any of the others if offers come in that are tempting. The name of the game is doing this under the charade of 'rebuilding' or 'revitalising' the squad - i.e. bringing in a couple of cheaper alternatives whilst ushering the established players out the back door. Most of us with sense can see what the real game is - it's the same they've been playing for 2-3 years now and will continue until there's nothing left.

For all we know maybe the Colorado manager told him that he has no defensive responsiblities. Hopefully he can perform well for us if we sign him.

Interesting that Jackson still seems to think we are after Sagnan and Nade, not sure we get either, but Nade would be more doable. Surprised as well that we haven't gone back in for guys like Guebbels and Youan who were linked to in Jan, think both would be good signings.

Maybe when Sid signs, they are 90% done?!

Agree here. Buckley and JRC should be moved on. Buckley need to play regularly and he won't here, and JRC need to move on for himself Forshaw will be squad player starting few games but mainly off the bench he will.used in my opinion Probably the box to box midfielder Ismael wanted

Rovers back pre season on Monday. Going to have to be a pretty hectic weekend if VI wants his 90% of transfers done 😄

Never heard about Tavares before. Went on youtube and watched the highlights from his debut for Colorado Rapids against LAFC. He is number 10 in the video. I know it's just one video but he looks lazy and disinterested. Is he really a defensive midfielder?

Think in an ideal world you need 5 central midfielders. Trav, Tronstad, Big Sid, Montgomery and Forshaw seems a sensible balance, 3 starters that will be rotated to suit, a young lad coming through and an experienced head for when times need it. I still expect Trav or Tronstad to leave, I think Trav goes this window and Tronstad leaves on a free next summer.

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.