Blackburn Rovers' stance as Carlisle United and Oxford United set for transfer battle | OneFootball

Highlights

Carlisle United and Oxford United are reportedly both already looking at making a summer move for young Blackburn Rovers forward Harry Leonard.

The two clubs are at opposite ends of the League One table. Oxford are hoping to be one of the four teams who make it into the play-offs by the time all the third tier teams have played their allotted 46 games. The Blues, on the other hand, are right at the bottom of the table, and are five points behind Fleetwood Town in 23rd.

Even though both teams could be in different divisions to the ones that they are currently in, come the summer, they are already looking at deals that could be made, and a Championship forward in his early 20s has caught the eye of both sides.

Carlisle and Oxford are planning a move for Harry Leonard in the summer window

Carlisle and Oxford both want to sign 20-year-old Rovers striker Leonard in the summer, according to journalist Alan Nixon, via his Patreon.

Nixon added that the young forward was made available in the January transfer window, but he ended up staying at Ewood Park. The 2024/25 campaign, however, could see him playing for someone other than Rovers, as they are reportedly considering sending him out on loan at the start of next season.

Leonard has played in 19 games for the club in the 2023/24 campaign, just nine of which were starts, and he has scored three times.

Both League One clubs signed strikers in the January window. Oxford brought in Will Goodwin from Cheltenham Town, whilst Carlisle acquired Luke Armstrong from Harrogate Town and Georgie Kelly from Rotherham United.

Even though Leonard only recently left his teenage years behind him, he's into his second season as a Championship forward. The 2022/23 campaign was just filled with cameo appearances near the end of the season, for the now 20-year-old, but his status as a second tier talisman has been elevated this season.

He's competed with the likes of Sammie Szmodics, Tyrhys Dolan, and Sam Gallagher for a spot up front, and he hasn't looked much out of place compared to the others when given the opportunity.

One concern with him is that he has missed nine big chances this season, according to Sofascore, which may unnerve the recruitment teams of both third tier sides.

But there is an argument to be made that a bit of inconsistency is always expected with young forwards.

Harry Leonard should wait until the summer to weigh up his options

In all likelihood, Carlisle are going to be in League Two for the 2024/25 campaign. Their gap to safety is essentially 12 points due to their poor goal difference, and their one win in their previous 16 games doesn't suggest that they'll be able to overcome that deficit.

The U's, on the other hand, could find themselves in the Championship. With the resources that they have at their disposal, they may not need a loanee from a Championship club, and Blackburn might not want to help another team in their league by providing them with some experience.

Leonard's decision should be based on the interested clubs' situations come the start of the 2024/25 campaign. With any move likely to be a loan too, as he has a deal with Blackburn that keeps him at Ewood Park until 2027, the long-term futures of Carlisle and Oxford shouldn't come too much into his thinking either. It should be about 'where, of the two, is going to give me the best chance to develop myself as a player?'