Middlesbrough contract claim could give Blackburn and Millwall cheaper alternative to Leeds United target: View | OneFootball

Already, the January transfer window is at its midway point, and for many clubs, there is still plenty of business left to be done.

As the time remaining in the window runs down, pressure will inevitably increase on those clubs to complete those signings, and make the adjustments to their squads they need to.

Consequently, it seems as though plans are now being put in place for some significant moves to be made by certain teams that might not otherwise have been expected to do so.

Indeed, it seems as though two clubs who could be set to make an attempt to make such a move before the window closes on February 1st, are Blackburn Rovers and Millwall.

reports from journalist Alan Nixon, both Blackburn Rovers and Millwall are keen to buy Leeds United defender Charlie Cresswell.

The Championship duo are both short on options in the centre of defence, and while Rovers have conceded more goals than any other team in the division, Cresswell is a familiar face to those of a Millwall persuasion, after a loan spell at The Den last season.

As a result, the 21-year-old certainly looks as though he has the potential to be an appealing target for the second-tier duo.

However, given the circumstances, there could be an argument that there is now a more suitable centre-back option for those two sides to target, from within the Championship.

Middlesbrough contract call should interest Blackburn, Millwall

According to recent updates from The Northern Echo, Middlesbrough have decided they will not be offering a new contract to centre-back Paddy McNair when his current deal expires this summer.

Consequently, there is a case to be made that such a situation is one that Blackburn and Millwall ought to be looking at McNair, as an alternative target to Cresswell.

As per Nixon's update, Leeds are looking to recoup somewhere in the region of £4million for the sale of Cresswell, which is not a cheap fee for Championship clubs.

Indeed, with three-and-a-half year remaining on his contract at Elland Road, Leeds are in a strong position to demand such a fee for the sale of the 21-year-old this month.

By contrast to that, with just six months remaining on his contract at The Riverside Stadium, this is now Middlesbrough's last chance to cash in on McNair.

That could therefore ought to make him a cheaper option for the likes of Blackburn and Millwall to target, given 'Boro could be more open to at least accepting a small fee for McNair, than nothing.

Should that be the case, the cheaper fee could make the Northern Ireland international a more appealing option for these clubs, not least because it may give them more scope to make other, similarly important, signings this month.

Beyond that, with a career that has seen him make well over 200 appearances in the top two tiers of English football, beginning with Manchester United no less, McNair also has the pedigree and ability needed to be a reliable option at the heart of defence for another Championship side.

Even so, he will still only be 29-years-old in April, which ought to ensure he could still be a long-term asset for these clubs, and that experience could indeed be key for Blackburn in particular, with head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson having regularly spoken of a need for more senior figures to aid his young side.

As a result, while there can be no denying Cresswell would be a useful signing for clubs such as Blackburn and Millwall this month, there are other suitable options worth considering for these clubs, and this latest update on McNair's future at Middlesbrough is a reminder of that.