Blackburn Rovers chasing transfer agreement for £5m Ajax player | OneFootball

Blackburn Rovers are keen to land their second midfield signing of the summer

Blackburn Rovers are reportedly in talks to sign Ajax midfielder Sivert Mannsverk.

That’s according to a report from Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, who adds that the Norway youth international has been told he can leave the Dutch club.

The 23-year-old spent the second half of last season out on loan with Championship side Cardiff City.

He would become Blackburn’s third permanent signing of the summer window if a deal were to be agreed.

Blackburn Rovers discussing Ajax, Sivert Mannsverk deal

Ajax spent significant resources on Mannsverk, splashing £5m on his transfer back in 2023, a sign that they clearly rated him highly.

But their partnership appears to be coming to an end, as Joseph reports that Ajax are working to secure the Norwegian a move away after telling him he can leave.

Blackburn are reportedly “in talks” to be his landing destination, but it is not yet clear how far along those negotiations are or what fee might be required to get him.

Mannsverk began his career in Norway, where his performances earned him the Ajax move, but he has only managed 18 appearances for the Dutch giants.

Sivert Mannsverk's Cardiff City move could prove important for Blackburn Rovers

One of the key concerns when purchasing a player from a technical league like the Eredivisie and dropping them into the more physical game in England is how they might adjust.

Plenty manage the transition, but some don’t, making it a big gamble when millions are changing hands.

Thankfully for Blackburn, this risk is greatly reduced in the case of Mannsverk, as they have 15 appearances to assess from his loan move to Cardiff.

He was well regarded at the Cardiff City Stadium, making 12 starts in the Championship in his short-term stay in the second tier.

Perhaps not coincidentally, one of the Norwegian’s best performances came against Rovers in the league, where he notched an assist and won the majority of his ground duels.

Watching on from the dugout that day, Blackburn manager Valerian Ismael clearly saw something he liked in Mannsverk, and Rovers are now exploring whether they could add the midfielder to their ranks.

Blackburn fans will be keen for more signings

So far, Rovers have only landed Sidnei Tavares and Dion De Neve from Moreirense and KV Kortrijk, respectively.

No doubt talented players, but few fans at Ewood Park would have been aware of them before the announcement of their signing was made.

Mannsverk is also probably not at the forefront of every Rovers supporter’s mind, but he is at least a player many will have watched before, and he would arrive from a world-renowned institution in Ajax.

Given that Blackburn have seen the likes of Tyrhys Dolan exit the club this summer, a quality signing would go a long way to energising fans for the season ahead.