One winner and one loser at Blackburn Rovers if they sign Coventry City's Brandon Thomas-Asante | OneFootball

FLW outline one winner and one loser at Blackburn Rovers if they seal a move for Coventry City's Brandon Thomas-Asante.

Blackburn Rovers are one of a handful of Championship sides who are interested in signing Coventry City striker Brandon Thomas-Asante in January.

The 26-year-old has a decent amount of EFL experience under his belt, thriving at Salford City, before making moves to West Browmich Albion and then Coventry. The striker spent two seasons at The Hawthorns, scoring 21 goals in 78 appearances for the Baggies, but he completed a move to Coventry in the summer, in a deal worth a potential figure that exceeds £3 million.

Thomas-Asante has failed to nail down a regular starting place in either of Mark Robins' or Frank Lampard's Coventry City starting XI this season, and hasn't been particularly prolific in front of goal, either​​​​. That could potentially open up an opportunity for other second tier sides to secure an agreement for Thomas-Asante.

According to Pete O'Rourke, the Stoke City are now in the race for Thomas-Asante. However, Blackburn Rovers have also taken an interest in the forward, but it remains to be seen whether John Eustace's side will be beaten to his signature by the Potters.

Blackburn have made an offer, according to Sky Sports' Transfer Centre feed (10.14 - 15/01/24). The Lancashire outfit have submitted a £1.75 million bid to sign the forward this January. As reported by the Lancashire Telegraph, Eustace is unaware of this but hopes that it is true.

He said: “I don’t think anything is imminent in the next few days, not that I’m aware of Brandon is another good player at this level. We have been linked with a lot of strikers already from the league. He’s someone with good pedigree and someone who has done well over the last few seasons I don’t know if there has been a bid. I’m not aware if that’s happened and if it has, ok, brilliant.”

Should a move materialise in the coming days, there will be a knock-on effect to the playing squad. Here, we have taken a look at one winner and one loser for Blackburn if Thomas-Asante is signed.

Todd Cantwell - Winner

Todd Cantwell is arguably Blackburn Rovers’ most talented individual and a player with match-winning capabilities all by himself. It is not always consistent, but he can conjure up something out of nothing when at his very best.

However, despite plenty of quality around him, there are few forwards of Thomas-Asante’s type on the books at Blackburn. Andi Weimann is used sparingly, Makhtar Gueye is effective when playing to his strengths, but only Yuki Ohashi will run the channels to any extent.

Another player with the ability to be a focal point in the way Gueye can be, but also have the workmanlike intensity out of possession for the team, is Thomas-Asante. His pressing and physicality combined would offer an alternative for Eustace.

He has never been a player with a particularly clinical edge but is more of an all-rounder than any of the other options. It means Cantwell has a player who he can play off and combine with, as well as someone who will provide him with space of his own to exploit and get shots away from.

The playmaker is capable of goals and assists and a profile like Thomas-Asante should get more out of Cantwell, which could be vital for a Blackburnside who have been stronger in their own box than the opposition’s this term. It could give them an edge in the run-in for the play-offs.

Makhtar Gueye - Loser

Ohashi’s goals may have dried up and Weimann may be incapable of playing every game at the age of 33, but the biggest loser is likely to be Gueye in terms of losing starting minutes.

Perhaps harshly after picking up his second Blackburn league goal in midweek against Portsmouth. However, Gueye seems unsuited to starting regularly for a well-organised and intense Blackburn side both in and out of possession.

His ability in the air offers something different but the likes of Ohashi and Thomas-Asante are far more likely to take the striker minutes for Eustace. Their industry and work rate, combined with superior athleticism, will make them key pieces of the team in the second half of the campaign.

Of course, it may well be game dependent or hinge on the context of the match, as Gueye has the ability to bully opposing central defenders and dominate aerially from set-pieces, but the types of fixture where that is required consistently are few and far between.

Despite a somewhat mediocre goalscoring record, Thomas-Asante could make a big difference to the make up of Blackburn’s attack under Eustace, and is likely to give the team more of a platform to build attacks than Gueye.

Overall, creating stability in a new environment will be key to seeing Thomas-Asante thrive again, and such a shrewd piece of business in January could be the difference maker for Blackburn having a shot at Premier League football if this deal can get over the line.