Exclusive: What Lee Hendrie thinks about Derby County striking Blackburn Rovers transfer | OneFootball

Speaking exclusively with FLW, Lee Hendrie has shared his thoughts on Derby County's reported interest in Blackburn Rovers captain Lewis Travis.

Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie believes Derby County should look to reach a deal with Blackburn Rovers for the signature of midfielder Lewis Travis.

John Eustace left Blackburn to take over at Derby in February, and as FLW exclusively revealed this week, the 45-year-old is keen to reunite with his former captain Travis at Pride Park this summer.

However, the Rams are not the only club plotting a move for Travis, who is believed to be valued at £2 million by Rovers, with journalist Alan Nixon revealing that ambitious newly-promoted Championship side Wrexham are also interested in the midfielder.

Travis spent the second half of the 2023-24 campaign on loan at Ipswich Town, but he starred after being brought back into the fold at Ewood Park last season by Eustace, scoring two goals and providing one assist in 39 appearances as Blackburn narrowly missed out on the play-offs.

Speaking back in March, Travis insisted that he was keen to stay with Rovers long-term, but he admitted that no talks had yet taken place over an extension to his current contract, which is due to expire next summer, and as he continues to attract attention from elsewhere, it remains to be seen whether his 11-year spell in Lancashire could be set to come to an end.

Lee Hendrie reacts as John Eustace eyes Lewis Travis reunion at Derby County

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Hendrie claimed that Derby should attempt to agree a deal to sign Travis this summer, and, having watched his career develop over the years, he insisted that the Blackburn man would be an excellent addition for the Rams.

"Derby are looking to take Lewis Travis from Blackburn," Hendrie said.

"John Eustace worked with Travis and knows what he's all about and how influential he is. I watched him as a young player, and he's stepped in and really stepped up.

"I think he'd be a fantastic signing for Derby, I really do. Like I said, Eustace knows him well and knows what a key role he can play.

"So, I think he would be a great signing for Derby."

John Eustace factor could convince Lewis Travis to swap Blackburn Rovers for Derby County

Travis is not the only Blackburn player on Derby's radar this summer, with Eustace also targeting reunions with defender Danny Batth and forward Andreas Weimann, as revealed in another FLW exclusive last month, but he could be the hardest of the trio to land.

Not only could Travis' reported £2 million valuation price the Rams out of a move, but they are also facing competition for his signature from Wrexham, who are expected to be one of the biggest spenders outside the Premier League this summer.

As such, the Welsh outfit may be able to offer him a much more lucrative financial package in order to move to the Racecourse Ground over Pride Park.

However, Travis has made it clear how much he enjoyed working with Eustace at Blackburn, describing him as a "really down to earth, honest person" who "speaks to everyone with respect" in September.