Not end of Rhodes for Blackburn Rovers
9:55am Friday 24th August 2012 in Sport
By Chris Flanagan, Sports reporter
BLACKBURN Rovers have not yet given up on securing a deal for Huddersfield’s Jordan Rhodes – but they have revived their interest in fellow striker John Guidetti as they assess other options.
Rovers had a third offer for Rhodes rejected earlier this week and, while they are running out of patience in their pursuit of the highly-rated 22-year-old, they are prepared to persist in their chase a little longer as they attempt to negotiate with Huddersfield.
Boss Steve Kean was reluctant to comment yesterday on how the club would respond to the latest rejected bid, with Huddersfield desperate to hang on to Rhodes, but the Lancashire Telegraph understands that Rovers remain eager to land their top strike target.
The club are aware, though, that time is running out ahead of the closure of the transfer window on August 31 and are ready to turn their attention to Manchester City forward Guidetti if they cannot land Rhodes.
Rovers were initially put off by the prospect of a £6m fee for Guidetti, who is still unproven in English football, but a season-long loan deal could now be a possibility with the 20-year-old to sign a new long-term contract at City.
The Swede had a loan period with Burnley 18 months ago and impressed with 20 goals in 23 games during a temporary spell with Dutch side Feyenoord last season.
He has been on the sidelines since April after a virus paralysed his right leg and ruled him out of contention for a call-up to Sweden’s Euro 2012 squad, but his agent has said this week that the striker is nearing a return and revealed that a total of 15 clubs had enquired about his availability – meaning that Rovers would have to move quickly to win the race.
Rovers have been looking for a striker to lead their front line since Leon Best was ruled out for six months with a cruciate knee ligament injury. The club are set to pay for the former Newcastle man to travel to the respected Athletes’ Performance facility in Los Angeles to speed up his recovery.
Steve Kean has already recruited Colin Kazim-Richards on a season-long loan from Galatasaray, with the Turkish international netting in each of the first two games of the season.
But the 25-year-old left the field with a knee injury in the closing stages of Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Hull and was having a scan yesterday to determine whether he will be available for tomorrow’s home game against Leicester City, with Kean describing him as ‘touch and go’.
The Rovers boss insisted, however, that he still has other options at his disposal this weekend if Kazim-Richards was ruled out.
“We’ve got Nuno Gomes, we’ve got David Goodwillie and we’ve got Edinho,” Kean said. “We’ve still got options there and we’re trying to get another one in as well.
“Who that will be, we have a few options and we will continue to press on with that.
“There is a possibility but once the season starts people are trying to hold on to their players so it’s difficult at this stage.
“But we will continue to try to strengthen the squad.
“The good thing is that we’ve got options already here inside the club and if somebody gets injured then we just have to replace and make sure they get the best possible medical opinion to get back as quickly as possible.”
And Kean believes Rovers’ strength in depth will be a major asset this season, saying: “We had the ability to rest Morten Gamst Pedersen, Gato Formica and Nuno Gomes on Wednesday.
“I think that’s going to be a big point this year, to make sure that everybody gets a rest and we use the full potential of the squad. That’s a big advantage because not only have we added to the squad but we’ve managed to keep the majority of last year’s squad together as well.”
Comments(26)
Trev Manchester
says...
10:12am Fri 24 Aug 12
onlyonesimongarner
says...
10:13am Fri 24 Aug 12
MxMave
says...
10:26am Fri 24 Aug 12
And Simon Vucevic, Rochina & Goodwillie had a great rest for the last year or 2. Why is it that the best players never seem to get played?
Whats the point getting guidetti on loan when hes injured for the long term and we already have one loanee striker. Id rather have a pop at some relatively unknown kid than train other peoples players.
jackflash257
says...
10:27am Fri 24 Aug 12
Road Runner Road Runner
says...
10:35am Fri 24 Aug 12
TSF replies:
Sir, never underestimate the power of a well connected agent, or, 'the Carlsberg agent' as we call him. Clearly, there are players at every club that are there because the agent has made promises to that manager that he will have a chance to sign the agents star player if he just takes this other one for a year or two first.
To answer your other point, there are many examples of players that have made it all the way from bottom to top as you quite rightly point out and I think that is because many players are so hungry to get to the top now. There is a clear agenda in the media that football, outside of the Premier League, does not exist; the column inches alone back that up and many papers have pulled reporters from games outside of the Premier League altogether.
For the players, they want to get to the Premier League, it is the only place they want to be. Some just want to say that they've done it, others are fiercely determined to get there and stay there. Talent wise the gulf is huge but there is no accounting for what can happen in a one-off game, that's why cup football can be so entertaining.
I think there is still something to be said for masking talent with hard work (in fact I know there is) but I am convinced that the shift is towards technically superior players, even the holding midfielders in the Premier League are now extremely confident with the ball at their feet.
A very interesting answer in the first comment from the 'Secret Footballer'
Sound familiar anyone ?
Arte et labore
maradonner
says...
10:38am Fri 24 Aug 12
Venkys Blue And White Army.
Riverside 7
says...
10:40am Fri 24 Aug 12
We have reportedly been linked with Connor Wickham at Sunderland - on loan.
I know Sunderland enquired about Guidetti but they were put off by his injury record and then went out and paid £12 - £14 million for Fletcher.
We certainly don't want to be signing another player with injury problems - even on loan.
Only1TonyFinnigan
says...
11:15am Fri 24 Aug 12
Well, after Wednesday nights debacle, I think they need to put the sign on the main street and threaten to throw people into the ground.
When you pay good money to watch your team and the highlight is reading a bast&&d notice, things are not good!
Chips gone up to 2quid as as well!
Will let you all know if any re-painting as taken place after Saturdays game!!
Get that PR!CK out, now! Love Rovers hate being bored!!
French Rover
says...
11:22am Fri 24 Aug 12
merlinrabbit
says...
11:23am Fri 24 Aug 12
bburnrover
says...
11:24am Fri 24 Aug 12
penemo
says...
11:35am Fri 24 Aug 12
Give Gooodwillie an extended run Im sure he will score goals in this division.
CON MAN KEAN OUT
James.NoNayNever
says...
11:49am Fri 24 Aug 12
andyproc
says...
12:18pm Fri 24 Aug 12
James.NoNayNever wrote:Very Constructive NOT!!!
EVERYONE GET TOGETHER ON SATURDAY AND SING NONE STOP,,,,,,KEAN OUT.....KEAN OUT.....KEAN OUT.....KEAN OUT.....KEAN OUT.....KEAN OUT.....KEAN OUT.....KEAN OUT.....KEAN OUT.....KEAN OUT.....KEAN OUT.....KEAN OUT.....KEAN OUT.....KEAN OUT.....KEAN OUT.....KEAN OUT.....KEAN OUT.....KEAN OUT.....KEAN OUT.....KEAN OUT.....FOR 90 MINUTES
Bigbry
says...
12:23pm Fri 24 Aug 12
GAZHAY
says...
12:25pm Fri 24 Aug 12
Phoenix From The Ashes
says...
12:28pm Fri 24 Aug 12
Venk Off
says...
12:37pm Fri 24 Aug 12
http://www.lancashir
etelegraph.co.uk/spo
rt/football/burnley_
fc/news/9892162.Not_
end_of_Rhodes_for_Bl
ackburn_Rovers/
hasslem hasslem
says...
12:44pm Fri 24 Aug 12
.
and as others say above - rochina seems to be one of the few bright lights brought into the club under our beloved leader and the king of the clowns refuses to play him and now even better refuses to even mention him. those of you that say kean deserves the backing of the supporters - how can you explain that one away?
rovertakenmb
says...
1:43pm Fri 24 Aug 12
onlyonesimongarner wrote:Do you know how many times Ruben Rochina has played a full 90 minutes for Rovers first team or Barcelona B?
What has happened to Ruben Rochina, you don`t play a full season for Barca B and then 2 years later not be able to get into a Championship Starting 11. Not unless you have been ruined by a Bad Coach!!!!!!
Once.
www.rovertaken.co.uk
Anyone who has pre-ordered a copy of "Agents, Rovers and Cricket Loving Owners" - book will be delivered by courier Friday 31st August if you live in Lancashire and for anyone who lives outside of Lancashire it will be sent out first class post on Friday 31st August.
the_scandinavian
says...
2:03pm Fri 24 Aug 12
Is Eckersley playing?
says...
2:19pm Fri 24 Aug 12
Rovers 1495
says...
3:00pm Fri 24 Aug 12
hasslem hasslem wrote:Steve's hoping to tie him down to a contract in the next 48 hours
its time for kean and venkys to s.hit or get off the potty as far as rhodes is concerned. we all know what the probable will be just like that ridiculous pursuit last close season of mariano pavone. realistically does anybody think that we will buy this bloke in the next week. i hope i am wrong - but kean's and venkys' record suggests otherwise.
.
and as others say above - rochina seems to be one of the few bright lights brought into the club under our beloved leader and the king of the clowns refuses to play him and now even better refuses to even mention him. those of you that say kean deserves the backing of the supporters - how can you explain that one away?
RUinsane
says...
3:58pm Fri 24 Aug 12
alf-abett
says...
10:03pm Fri 24 Aug 12
Venk Off wrote:To answer your question, yes, I did and to be truthful I was scrolling down the stories and thought! blooming heck, 25 post's on a Burnley story! my mind was racing thinking all sorts like, they must have found the Galleon Ship they used when they were in Europe last and then I realised it was about BRFC and that got me thinking on how much better we are at keeping the ball and returning to our rightful place in the Premiership, perhaps Burnley never will.
Anybody notice that the LET has put the article about SK under "Burnley FC" news . Clearly aimed at SK fans
http://www.lancashir
etelegraph.co.uk/spo
rt/football/burnley_
fc/news/9892162.Not_
end_of_Rhodes_for_Bl
ackburn_Rovers/
maradonner says...
10:01am Fri 24 Aug 12
You have to admire the man's resilience.
It is exactly this sort of determination that should take him to the highest levels in world football.
Venkys Blue And White Army.