Blackburn Rovers interested in signing former Birmingham City star blessed with ‘football intelligence’

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The new Championship season is set to kick off this weekend, with expectations at Blackburn Rovers and Birmingham City not aligning at all.

Birmingham City come into the season full of hope and ambition following their record points tally for League One last season and are hoping to push towards promotion and return to the Premier League to bring an end to their absence from the top flight, one that has been growing since 2011.

Meanwhile, Blackburn Rovers would love to build on their finish to last season, as they finished outside the play-offs; however, they may have to be more realistic and realise that a solid season under Valerien Ismael may be the best.

Both clubs have been busy in the transfer market this summer, and neither look to have completed their business.

Now Blackburn will be looking to close the gap with Birmingham City by signing one of their former stars.

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Blackburn interest in Koji Miyoshi

Rovers are interested in signing the Japanese international from VfL Bochum to strengthen their options on the right wing, as first reported by Alan Nixon.

Koji Miyoshi spent one season at Birmingham City, 2023/24, but left ahead of the last campaign in the third tier to join Bundesliga side VfL Bochum.

The 28-year-old was a key part of that Birmingham team, as he appeared in all but three matches, scoring six goals and making six assists in league competition.

Now Blackburn are reportedly looking to add him to their ranks, with the player not being an ESC slot, as he would qualify for a regular GBE work permit, providing a deal is struck before he plays for Bochum this season.

Miyoshi was a favourite of Tony Mowbray’s while he was at Birmingham City, as he explained to Birmingham Live why he had become a regular in the side.

He said: “I genuinely feel that he’s one of the players, in my mind, that has to play most weeks because of his football intelligence and the way we’re going to ask the team to play, we’re going to need some intelligent footballers there.”

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Further Blackburn transfer business

Blackburn may need to carry on in the transfer market right up to the deadline of the window, as they require some cover in other positions.

There may be a need for cover in attack, having lost the goals and creativity from Andreas Weimann and Tyrhys Dolan, who joined Espanyol.

Meanwhile, with the rumours still circulating about a potential exit from Lewis Travis, there may be a need to bring in further reinforcements. Moussa Baradji would have been considered, but with registration issues, they could not sign him this summer.

Finally, there is a need to strengthen at centre back following Hayden Carter’s injury, and the need to manage the return of Scott Wharton means an additional signing could be required unless they expect Tom Atcheson to make the step up.