Blackburn Rovers can prevent looming 2025 issue by signing 13-goal winger: View | OneFootball

One January transfer target for John Eustace's side has seemingly already been identified

The 2024 summer transfer window proved to be one that left the vast majority of Blackburn Rovers fans rather pleased with their club's business.

There was of course, the disappointment of losing last season's Championship Golden Boot winner Sammie Szmodics, whose goals were vital in keeping the club in the division last season.

However, with nine new signings, a number of which have already made promising starts on the pitch, there is still a sense of optimism around Ewood Park.

Indeed, that has also been helped by an unbeaten start to the Championship season, which currently has John Eustace's side fifth in the standings, with eight points from four league games.

Now, it appears that on top of that, Blackburn are already making plans for the January transfer window as well.

Rovers eyeing deal for Serie B winger

According to recent reports from journalist Alan Nixon, the Ewood Park club are keen to sign winger Augustus Kargbo from Cesena in the January transfer window.

The Sierra Leone international joined his current club in the summer of 2023, and helped them win promotion to the Italian second-tier last season.

In total, he has scored 13 goals and provided 13 assists in 39 appearances in all competitions for Cesena, which appears to have caught the attention of Blackburn.

It is thought that the Championship club were keen on the 25-year-old in the summer, and that he is expected to be sold at the turn of the year.

Kargbo still has a contract with Cesena until the summer of 2026, and as a result, it is claimed that it could cost more than £1million to sign him.

If Rovers were to get that deal done though, then it could be argued that they would be getting ahead in solving an issue they may need to address, come the end of this season.

Blackburn may need winger reinforcements

Right now, there may be a sense for some that John Eustace has enough wingers in his side for next season.

Tyrhys Dolan, Ryan Hedges, Arnor Sigurdsson and Amario Cozier-Duberry are all natural options to operate in that position.

Meanwhile, the likes of Joe Rankin-Costello and summer signings Andreas Weimann and Todd Cantwell can also operate in that role if required.

However, it is worth noting that all four of those more established and natural wide options could yet leave Blackburn at the end of the season.

Cozier-Duberry is only on-loan at Blackburn from Brighton until the end of the campaign, and will no doubt be return to his parent club next summer.

Given the Seagulls only signed him from Arsenal this summer before loaning him out, they will surely want to use the 19-year-old themselves at some point, given the promise he clearly has.

Meanwhile, Dolan, Hedges and Sigurdsson are all out of contract at the end of this season, meaning they too could be free to leave the club at that point.

Of the three, only Hedges is known to have an option to extend his deal by a further 12 months - Blackburn having used one of those to keep hold of Dolan himself this summer.

It is also worth noting that another wide option, Dilan Markanday - who is currently on loan at League Two side Chesterfield - is in the same situation as Hedges.

As a result, it seems there is a good chance that Rovers will need some winger reinforcements between now and the start of next season, which could make a January move for Kargbo sensible.

Buying the Cesena man at the turn of the year would provide the club with a long-term option in that position, who they can take into the 2025/26 campaign as an option, amid those potential exits.

If Blackburn were to sign him in January, he would also have several months where he could adapt to a new club and country, while Dolan, Hedges, Cozier-Duberry and Sigurdsson are still there.

That would eliminate any need for Kargbo to hit the ground running if he makes the move could ensure he is in a more comfortable position to make an impact, if he is needed to early next season.

Blackburn, when looking ahead to next summer and the 2025/26 season already.