Nottingham Forest’s first opponents under new boss Chris Hughton are hoping to add a player from Premier League new boys Leeds United ahead Saturday’s match at Ewood Park.
Hughton takes charge of the Reds for the first time against Blackburn Rovers this weekend, with his opposite number Tony Mowbray keen to sign 31-year-old defender Barry Douglas before Friday’s 5pm domestic transfer deadline.
Rovers are reported to have made their move to land the experienced full-back on a season-long loan, with talks understood to have stepped up yesterday and progress made on the player who is understood to also be wanted by Watford.
The Lancashire Telegraph report that there is still work to do before the deal is completed, but the signs are that Rovers’ search for a left back will result in a positive conclusion.
Rovers signed Greg Cunningham on loan from Cardiff City on deadline day last August, but the hope is they won’t have to wait until the final hours of this window this time around to bring in a left back.
The transfer window closes at 5pm tomorrow, with a left back the one standout bit of business that Rovers have left to do having brought in two goalkeepers and a central defender.
The backline was always set to be the focus of Rovers’ recruitment plans with the finances available, with goalkeepers Thomas Kaminski and Antonis Stergiakis brought in from AA Gent and Slavia Sofia respectively.
Daniel Ayala helped fill the defensive void left by the departure of loanee Tosin Adarabioyo, with Douglas looking likely to complete the defensive reinforcements.
The Scot has made just one appearance for Leeds this season, that coming in an EFL Cup tie with Hull City, and he is yet to feature in a Premier League matchday squad.
But he would come with excellent recent experience in the Championship, part of the Wolves squad which clinched promotion to the Premier League in 2018, and after moving to Leeds in that summer, he played 15 times in their promotion campaign of 2019/20, including the Ewood Park fixture in July.
Amari’i Bell has played every minute of Rovers’ six competitive fixtures this season, but Rovers are closing in on adding another option in that position.
