Valerien Ismael forced to approve Blackburn Rovers exit as solution to transfer problem

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Blackburn Rovers are still looking to use the transfer market this summer to strengthen their squad, with their early performances potentially confirming to Valerien Ismael that they need reinforcements.

The Lancashire outfit began their Championship season with a 1-0 defeat to West Brom at the Hawthorns, with the hosts inspired to victory by Nat Phillips.

Blackburn Rovers followed this up with a 2-1 defeat at Ewood Park to League One opposition in the shape of Bradford City in the Carabao Cup.

This led to Valerien Ismael sending a cryptic message to fans after the match about future transfers at the club this summer, with many believing part of the statement was about Lewis Travis’ future at the club; however, now he could have been talking about another player’s departure.

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Blackburn Rovers set to sell Exauce Mafoumbi

Valerien Ismael is looking to strengthen the attacking positions at Blackburn Rovers and had been linked to former Birmingham City striker Koji Miyoshi.

However, with the Japanese attacker featuring in the Bundesliga 2 for Bochum, it meant that Blackburn could not register him on a GBE work permit due to the fact that he played in one of Europe’s ‘band one’ leagues last season, as his German side had been relegated last season.

Miyoshi would need an ESC slot in order to sign for Blackburn Rovers, and the only way the club can do this is to sell Exauce Mafoumbi to free up one of these slots to register the Japanese attacker.

Mafoumbi has struggled to make an impact since joining Blackburn Rovers in July 2024, with the player yet to play for the senior team, and so it would make sense to sell the player to free up an ESC slot for Blackburn Rovers to sign another player who could strengthen the senior team.

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Positive news in the transfer market for Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Rovers are not only looking to target a new face coming in an attacking position, but they are looking to strengthen in defence too.

Sunderland have announced that they are willing to allow Nectarios Triantis to leave the club this summer.

Triantis recently decided to represent Greece at the international level, with the defender previously having the choice of representing the European nation or Australia.

Blackburn Rovers had been interested in the defender earlier in the window, and now that Sunderland are willing to let him go, this could see the Lancashire club test the waters once again in acquiring him, according to the 72.