Winners and losers from Blackburn Rovers’ signing Dion de Neve include Todd Cantwell

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Blackburn Rovers confirmed their first signing of this summer transfer window as they acquired Dion de Neve.

Rovers signed the Belgian from KV Kortrijk on a three-year deal, with the winger becoming the first signing Valérien Ismaël has made as Rovers manager.

The 23-year-old winger scored twice in 30 appearances in the Jupiler League last season as the side suffered relegation to the second tier.

Blackburn Rovers were in need of a dangerous winger with the ability to create chances from wide by swinging crosses into the box to fit Ismaël’s style.

EFL Analysis has now looked at how his switch to Lancashire could impact certain players in the Blackburn squad.

• READ MORE: Every incoming and outgoing at Blackburn Rovers in the summer transfer window

Winners from Dion de Neve’s Blackburn Rovers transfer

Makhtar Gueye

The Senegalese striker was a vital component of the Blackburn Rovers squad last season, leading the line on 44 occasions throughout the Championship campaign, with 23 of them being starts.

Gueye only scored six goals and provided six assists during the season, and while he is not the most natural of finishers, the approaches taken by both his managers, John Eustace and Ismaël, will not have led to the striker having many opportunities to put the ball in the net.

However, the signing of a winger that will look to create opportunities for his striker by getting the ball in the box quickly will suit the six-foot five-inch striker.

Todd Cantwell

The creative midfielder may see the signing of de Neve as a blessing, as it will mean he could play less from the left, where he operated at times for Rovers last season.

Cantwell is a creative player who loves to get the ball and drive at defences, operating in the spaces between the midfield and defence of the opposition and creating chances for his teammates.

The Belgian will also provide Cantwell with another passing option when he does look to create things for the Rovers attack, looking to utilise the speed of the winger to get in behind the opposition defence.

Losers from Dion de Neve’s Blackburn Rovers transfer

Augustus Kargbo

Augustus Kargbo is mainly a striker, but he can also operate from the left wing, a position Dion de Neve is a natural in.

The Sierra Leonean only featured in eight Championship matches last season for Blackburn, and he may have expected to get more game time this season, but the new signing may bring more competition.

Kargbo was not clinical at all for Blackburn, as he failed to score for the club while only providing one assist, struggling in both the Derby County and Norwich City fixtures on the wing.

Harry Pickering

The left-back struggled to get into the squad during the period under Ismaël, with Yuri Ribeiro being his fullback of choice.

The decision to sign Belgian de Neve may push him further down the pecking order, as he can operate as a fullback too.

Pickering may suffer due to this despite being a mainstay in the Blackburn Rovers squad since joining the club from Crewe Alexandra in 2021.