Rudy Gestede to leave Blackburn Rovers? New revelation hints at possible Ewood Park exit | OneFootball

Rudy Gestede has revealed that he's received interest from clubs in France

Blackburn Rovers are preparing for another season in the Championship after narrowly avoiding relegation.

Michael O’Neill oversaw a positive end to the campaign, leading the Lancashire outfit to a 20th place finish in the table.

The Northern Irishman guided the team to five wins, five draws and five defeats after taking over the first team in February following Valerien Ismael’s dismissal.

However, he has since stepped back from the Championship side, returning to his position as the Northern Ireland boss on a full-time basis.

Blackburn will be hoping to appoint a permanent successor soon, so that work can begin on their summer transfer window plans.

The club will certainly want to climb back up the second division table after going from seventh to 20th in the last 12 months.

Rudy Gestede reveals Ligue 1 switch opportunity

Blackburn’s head of football operations Rudy Gestede has claimed that he has had interest from clubs in Ligue 1 following his work at Ewood Park.

The former striker took on the role with Rovers since June 2024, and has been an integral part of the decision-making process in that time, including the appointments of Ismael, O’Neill and other coaches, as well as player transfers.

The 37-year-old has clarified that he’s not been offered anything concrete just yet, but that he’s had interest from attractive projects in the French top flight.

Foot Mercato.

"I’ve had contacts, especially with Ligue 1 clubs, but nothing concrete yet.

“They’re attractive projects.

"It depends on the club project, but also on the life project because I have a wife and three children.

“But if I feel I can help move a club forward and make it a success, then yes, I’m interested."

Gestede has come under criticism for his work at Blackburn over the last two years, with the team struggling for consistent results in the Championship.

The former forward made 56 league appearances for Blackburn as a player, scoring on 33 occasions, before joining Aston Villa in the summer of 2015.

His role as the head of football operations has been his first position in football after his playing career, which ended at Iranian side Esteghlal in 2022.

The 37-year-old will now be trying to find a successor to O’Neill, who departed at the end of the campaign after the club survived relegation by just five points.

Gestede’s role will also involve drawing up transfer plans, with Blackburn hoping to improve the first team squad ahead of the next campaign.

Rovers will be looking to get back into contention for promotion after they finished seventh in the table just 12 months ago.

But it remains to be seen just yet who will be in the dugout when the new term gets underway in August.

It is a crucial time for Rudy Gestede at Blackburn

Gestede has received plenty of criticism over the last two years from supporters, but he now has a chance to really show what he can do in his role with the club.

It is a pivotal time, as he not only has to find a worthy successor to take over from O’Neill, but he is also deep in planning for the transfer window.

If the managerial appointment and player transfers don’t go well, then fans will be quick to get on his back next season, which will put his position under further pressure.

However, if things go well, then perhaps he might start to receive more concrete interest from clubs in France, so Blackburn are stuck in a tricky spot with the former Benin international.