Burnley
Blackburn Rovers
Coventry City
Derby County
Leeds United
Luton Town
Middlesbrough
Millwall
Norwich City
Portsmouth
Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield United
QPR
Blackburn Rovers experienced a lot of change this summer in the way of its playing squad under Valerien Ismael, as the club saw a lot of incomings and departures.
Rovers now have a squad that will be closer to the liking of Valerien Ismael following the amount of activity in the transfer market this summer.
While the Lancashire club lost several familiar faces as their captain Lewis Travis departed for Derby County, Dominic Hyam left for Wrexham on deadline day and Tyrhys Dolan joined Espanyol in La Liga, there were several additions.
It is notable that a number of the incomings to Blackburn Rovers this summer were more youthful and inexperienced, as Ismael looks to rejuvenate and freshen things up at Ewood Park.
However, just days after the closure of the summer transfer window, Valerien Ismael has already started talking about further deals in January.
Valerien Ismael is teasing January signings already
The summer transfer window has just closed, and Valerien Ismael is already talking about the potential for January signings at Blackburn Rovers with the Lancashire Telegraph.
This could be viewed either way by Rovers fans, encouraging that he wants to bring in further additions or worrying that he feels there is a need to bring in more recruits.
He said: “We have a lot of new players, and they need to get that feeling that, OK, we are part of the project.
“Rovers cannot afford to have two or three players on the stand, sitting out every matchday. So, we need to find the right balance between improving the squad, what we think we have to do, and the other one to say, shall we do it now, force something, or maybe to wait, develop the team.
“If we have to do something, we will be able to do it in January.”
- READ MORE: Why Valerien Ismael’s most important signing this summer is the ‘perfect fit’ for Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers’ transfer approach explained
The Lancashire club have seemingly made it clear how they will be approaching transfers under Valerien Ismael, with it potentially being the way forward for Blackburn.
Ismael explained there will be a focus on youth and developing talent through the academy.
He said: “We have to find the right balance.
“I think that so far, we replaced all the players who left us; we replaced them with younger players; we bought the players, so we create some sustainability for the club and for the squad as well for the next couple of years to work together to create that connection.
“At the same time, the Academy pathway is very, very important, and we have to show that we are ready to give the chance for the player.
“They have to take the chance, but the truth is always on the pitch and the result at the end of the day. You will be judged on that, and all the planning you’ve got will decide; the pitch will decide how far we can go on that one.”