There will be plenty of work to do for Blackburn Rovers over the course of the summer transfer window.
This season saw the Ewood Park club only narrowly avoid relegation from the Championship on the final day of the campaign, with a 2-0 win over title winners Leicester City.
Defeat in that match would have seen them relegated, and they can ill afford to have a repeat of such a close call again.
To avoid that, they will surely have to strengthen their squad in the coming months, to ensure they have a starting XI to open the campaign, that is more capable of pushing them up the table.
So with that in mind, we’ve taken a look at what Blackburn Rovers’ ideal starting lineup for the first game of the season on the 10th August might be, right here.
Goalkeeper: John Ruddy
The club’s two first choice goalkeepers, Aynsley Pears and Leo Wahlstedt, both made a number of costly errors this season, and so a new option may be needed between the posts.
Blackburn have been linked with John Ruddy, a move that would reunite the veteran goalkeeper with head coach John Eustace, and he could be available on a free transfer with his Birmingham contract expiring this summer.
Left-Back: Harry Pickering
Rovers’ standout option at left-back amid a lack of other options in that position, Pickering is a more than reliable presence on that side of the defence.
With several years remaining on his contract at Ewood Park as well, there should be little concern about losing him this summer either.
Centre Back: Alfie Gilchrist
With Scott Wharton set to miss much of next season through injury, and it still to be seen if Kyle McFadzean will sign a new contract, Blackburn do need some central defensive reinforcements.
They have been credited with an interest in a loan move for Chelsea’s Alfie Gilchrist. Having looked solid for the Blues in the Premier League this season, he could surely do a job in the Championship, and it would be a coup amid links with second-tier rivals such as Leeds United and Preston North End.
Centre Back: Dom Hyam
Admittedly, Hyam’s second season at Ewood Park was some way from the huge success that his debut campaign in Lancashire was.
But if he can rediscover the form he showed for Rovers in the 2022/23 campaign, then he can be among the most reliable defenders at this level, which would make him a major asset for Eustace’s side again.
Right-Back: Callum Brittain
For the most part, Brittain was one of Blackburn’s most consistently reliable performers last season, so they should be confident about starting the campaign with him still in the starting XI.
Indeed, a lack of alternative natural and senior options in that position may also aid his cause in that battle for a place in the side.
Centre Mifield: Sondre Tronstad
Arriving on a free transfer from Vitesse Arnhem last summer, Tronstad was one of the big success stories at Ewood Park last season.
Quickly becoming a popular figure around the club, his experience, leadership, and ability to defend the backline behind him, mean he will surely ought to be a starter again going into next season.
