"It's not a problem" - Blackburn Rovers given clear advice after Man United, Aynsley Pears news | OneFootball

Aynsley Pears has been linked with a move to the Red Devils

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

FLW's Blackburn Rovers fan pundit has expressed his shock at Manchester United's reported interest in their first-choice goalkeeper Aynsley Pears, and also insisted that he would be happy to see the club let him leave for the Red Devils this summer.

Rovers had looked set for a surprise top-six finish in the Championship just a few weeks ago, but John Eustace's exit looks to have rocked the squad, and they now sit in eighth spot under new boss Valerien Ismael with just 10 games of the campaign left to play.

Lots of their success under their former head-coach was down to grinding out wins with a strong defence, but keeper Pears has come in for criticism at times this season, as well as in previous ones, after numerous shaky displays since his 2020 arrival from Middlesbrough.

It has, then, come as a shock to see him linked with English football titans Manchester United, and Rovers have now been urged to let him leave to complete the bizarre move ahead of next season.

'Not good enough' Aynsley Pears claim amid Manchester United links

Transfer journalist Alan Nixon has claimed that Blackburn stopper Pears is on United's shortlist ahead of a possible move, with the Red Devils looking to add a homegrown keeper to their ranks to be number two to Andre Onana.

He also reports that United specialist scout Tony Coton has been watching the experienced keeper throughout the Championship season up to now, so a switch seems quite possible, especially given that Tom Heaton could leave Old Trafford in the summer.

Pears has kept 13 clean sheets in 35 Championship games so far this term, while he has conceded 35 goals in that time and saved one penalty from four taken against him.

Those statistics read in favour of the 26-year-old ahead of a potential big summer move to Ruben Amorim's side, but our Rovers fan pundit, Simon Middlehurst, is unsure as to why the Red Devils are interested in his services, and has told his club to let Pears leave this summer to then re-invest in a new keeper.

"Not sure what to think of (Pears being linked to Manchester United). Really, really weird," Simon told FLW.

"I don’t think he’s good enough for Man United. I don’t think he’s good enough for the Prem.

"At the minute, and at times, I don’t think he’s good enough for the Championship either, but if Man United are going to come along and take him off our hands, and we get some money from it, then it’s not a problem.

"It means we can invest it on someone else. The general feeling at Blackburn at the minute is that he’s not actually good enough to be in the first-team.

"Anew goalkeeper is definitely something we need to look at, so, if United want to come and take him off our hands, then absolutely let them have him."

It would be a surprise to see Pears join United this summer - but a move is possible

Blackburn's form has taken a dip in the last few games, but their season is far from over, and Pears could well help them to a top-six finish and possible promotion in May if things start to go their way under Ismael.

It would still be a really left-field transfer if he made his way to Old Trafford ahead of next season. The 26-year-old has not established himself as one of the best keepers in the Championship over the last few years, and seems to be below the sort of calibre of player that a side like Manchester United would sign, even in a tough moment under recently-appointed boss Amorim.

He would be joining to be a squad player, however, and so, on that basis, it seems within the realm of possibility that he could move to be third choice behind Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir. Pears himself would no doubt jump at the chance to represent one of the biggest clubs in the world, too, despite the likelihood of much less game-time.

It remains to be seen how Rovers get on in the Championship over the next two months, but they will have to hope that Pears has not been unsettled by any talk around his future at the club, as he will be vital to any success they achieve.