Blackburn Rovers told to reinstate key strategy that led to Adam Wharton’s £22million profit

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Blackburn Rovers may have spent fees on seven new players this summer, but a former academy ace is unimpressed with the absence of one element of their recruitment strategy.

The summer transfer window saw the Championship club wave goodbye to captain Lewis Travis, who was sold to Derby County, and introducing Ryoya Morishita among other fresh faces into the squad.

Blackburn’s recent starting XI against Watford featured two academy products, Hayden Carter and Scott Wharton, with Kristi Montgomery on the bench.

However, one of Rovers’ former players thinks the club are risking not bringing through more local lads into the first team.

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David Dunn calls for scouting in Blackburn so Blackburn Rovers can find the next Adam Wharton

Adam Wharton came through the ranks at Ewood Park before being sold to Crystal Palace for £22million in January 2024. He has since represented England and was called up to Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad.

David Dunn played for Blackburn’s youth side before progressing into the first team and making 377 appearances, scoring 58 goals and grabbing 24 assists.

Speaking about his concerns about Blackburn’s scouting on the I Had Trials Once podcast, he said: “Blackburn just sold a player for £20million, an England international from Blackburn, but I never see any Blackburn scouts in our area. Where are they all? Not covering the local area.

“They need to be out watching players. It’s criminal.”

Highest transfer fees for players that have been in Blackburn Rovers’ academy

Should Blackburn scout around the local area again, they could generate even bigger fees than their previous academy players created in the future.

Wharton and his brother, Scott, were born in Blackburn and Adam joined the academy in 2010, making his senior debut in 2022. He earned the club an initial profit of £18million, rising to £22million after his move to Selhurst Park.

Academy products Damien Duff and Phil Jones’ direct moves from Ewood Park to other clubs in 2003 and 2011 respectively were the next biggest fees made by homegrown player sales. Those fees would likely have been bigger in today’s transfer market.

Blackburn won’t want to miss out on spotting potential talent born in the town.