Blackburn Rovers should lean on Crystal Palace contacts for key summer signing: View | OneFootball

Blackburn Rovers will be looking to invest in their playing squad this summer to avoid another season looking over their shoulder like they were in the most recent campaign.

The Ewood Park side needed victory over Champions Leicester City to ensure their second tier status for the next campaign and will be looking to make the most of that let-off with a strong influx of players during the off-season.

The loss of Adam Wharton to Crystal Palace in January hit Rovers hard, with the teenager’s ability in the middle of the park glaringly absent in the second half of the campaign.

But the good feeling between the two clubs after the potential £22 million deal could work in the Lancashire side’s favour for the next campaign, with one player particularly catching the eye ahead of a potential summer move.

Championship clubs facing battle for Crystal Palace’s Jesurun Rak-Sakyi amid EFL loan speculation

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi has already caught the eye with one temporary move into the Football League, after his 15-goal season for Charlton Athletic in the 22/23 League One campaign.

The young star was one of the standout players in the third tier during his time at The Valley, with his grace and flair tearing many a defence to shreds during his time with the club.

That breakthrough season led to many thinking a Championship loan may have been on the cards for the most recent campaign, but Palace opted to keep him at the club, where he has featured six times for the first team in brief cameos.

The 21-year-old is yet to feature under new Eagles boss Oliver Glasner though but he has been impressing for the youth side at Selhurst Park, with a recent hat-trick in a 5-0 drubbing of Tottenham Hotspur the latest reminder of the talent he possesses.

With pace to burn and the technique to back it up, Rak-Sakyi has already proven himself to be a talent capable of performing at Championship level during his brief career to date, which has left several clubs considering a move for the winger ahead of next season.

Second tier new boys Portsmouth are said to be interested in bringing the exciting prospect to the club ahead of their Championship return, while the likes of Sunderland and Hull City have also said to have been interested in the past.

Adam Wharton deal could help Blackburn Rovers sweeten Jesurun Rak-Sakyi deal

It would be no surprise to see Rovers join the race for Rak-Sakyi over the summer, with the winger one of the hottest young prospects to grace the EFL in recent seasons.

With the deal to take Wharton to Selhurst Park still fresh in the memory, the decision to let their most talented academy prospect join the Premier League side could help Blackburn’s chances of brokering a deal over the summer.

If Palace are to loan their star out for the following campaign, they would want it to be with a club they can trust, and in Wharton [pictured, below] John Eustace’s side have the perfect example of a young star nurtured to the best of their ability.

With Tyrhys Dolan’s future at Ewood Park still in doubt, Rak-Sakyi could prove the perfect replacement in the frontline next season, with both players possessing the ability to beat a man at will with pace and skill.

Dolan’s contract will elapse next month, although the club have the option to extend for another year if they wish to do so, with Luton Town said to have been interested in his services in the past.

And if they are to lose one of their main attacking threats, striking another deal with Palace - this time one that works in their favour - could help to soften the blow, and even improve them ahead of another season in the second tier.