"Only delays the issue" - Blackburn Rovers sent warning despite imminent Bournemouth transfer deal | OneFootball

FLW's Blackburn Rovers fan pundit believes Mark Travers will provide the stability between the sticks that the club is in desperate need of.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Blackburn Rovers will be looking to end the summer transfer window on a high note - which will include landing a new goalkeeper to compete with Aynsley Pears.

Blackburn have enjoyed a fantastic start to their 2024/25 campaign under John Eustace and they will be hoping to continue their form following the conclusion of the transfer window, and after the upcoming international break.

So far, seven points from a possible nine have been picked up by Eustace's side, with their only two lost points coming away to Norwich City.

There will be a lot of rightful optimism within the Lancashire outfit at the moment, as they seem to be having no trouble with finding the back of the net, despite losing their star man, Sammie Szmodics, to Ipswich Town.

However, the Ewood Park faithful will still want to see some movement before Friday's transfer deadline, with a number of positions needing strengthening with the Szmodics funds.

Despite having such a positive start to the season, Blackburn continue to concede goals and are yet to earn a clean sheet, which was a big issue last season.

So far, they have conceded five goals in three games, but have prevented it from being too much of an issue by scoring plenty of goals in the process.

And following the departure of Leopold Wahlstedt earlier in the summer, it looks as though Rovers are searching for a solution to their defensive issue, by adding a highly-skilled goalkeeper to the ranks.

According to Pete O'Rourke via his X post, Blackburn Rovers are close to securing a deal for Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers on loan. It would be Blackburn's second goalkeeping acqusition this summer after young stopper Jack Barrett arrived on a permanent deal from Everton.

There is still a need for another goalkeeper to come in as Barrett and Joe Hilton are inexperienced in the EFL, and current number one Aynsley Pears has conceded a number of goals and is prone to mistakes - as seen on the final day of last season with his howler against Sheffield Wednesday.

Blackburn have had competition for Travers' signature, with Strasbourg and Rayo Vallecano also having an interest in the Republic of Ireland international, but it seems that Rovers are the ones closing in on a deal.

The goalkeeper would be a superb signing as he has plenty of experience at this level already considering his age, and could help to solve their defensive issues with a more confident stopper behind them.

Blackburn Rovers fan pundit approves of Mark Travers pursuit

Football League World's Blackburn Rovers fan pundit, Toby Wilding, has expressed his excitement about the prospect of signing a goalkeeper of such Championship pedigree, and highlighted the importance of bringing in a new number one - even if it is on a temporary basis.

And a warning has been sent to the Rovers hierarchy that there is a need to address the goalkeeper position permanently somewhere down the line.

"This is one I'm happy with for the most part," Toby told FLW.

"He's got international caps under his belt, he's played in the Premier League, so in that sense, he does look like a good all-round signing.

"I'm more than happy for him to potentially take over between the posts.

"You'd expect him to be number one if he comes in and I do think that is probably what was needed, when you look at how things went for Aynsley Pears last season.

"He made a few errors over the course of the campaign, he's had a few shaky moments already this season. "I'd like to think Travers would provide a more reliable first-choice option for John Eustace's side. "It's a loan deal from the sounds of things, so that only delays the issue and means it is something that will come up again next summer, but I guess with only a few days left of the window, it's getting to the point where things just need to get sorted." "It can be readdressed further down the line, and bringing Travers in now, even if it is only on loan, does at least give that extra stability that is really needed now in goal for the rest of this season.

"On the whole, this is one I'd be happy with."