Blackburn Rovers deal for Celtic-linked Chelsea star falls through - Tony Mowbray to blame? | OneFootball

Blackburn eyed up a late deal for Chelsea's Ecuadorian starlet Kendry Paez - but did Tony Mowbray kabosh the swoop?

Blackburn Rovers ended up having somewhat of a disappointing transfer deadline day, that has seemingly been compounded by Tony Mowbray's refusal to sign off on a deal for Chelsea teenager Kendry Paez.

Despite travelling to Switzerland earlier in the summer for crunch talks with Rovers owners the Venky's over transfer funds, not long after returning to Ewood Park as manager, Mowbray was never truly able to land a blow during the window.

Just four new players arrived, with one already a pre-agreed deal for loanee midfielder Moussa Baradji, and despite expectations of the loan market being used to bolster the thin squad at Mowbray's disposal, no temporary transfers ended up arriving before Tuesday's 11pm deadline.

Blackburn Rovers transfer revelation unearthed over Chelsea starlet

It looked as though Rovers were going to be restricted to just two deadline day signings, the first of which has now been confirmed in the form of Modena right-back Gady Beyuku on a permanent deal.

And in addition to the the 20-year-old Frenchman, there was speculation that Chelsea wonderkid Kendry Paez could also be heading to Ewood Park for the rest of the 2026-27 season, having been offered on loan to the Lancashire outfit.

However, according to Alan Nixon, Mowbray watched clips of the Ecuadorian in action, and he was 'not sure' as to whether to sanction the arrival of the 19-year-old despite their squad depth concerns.

It's now been confirmed that Blackburn only got one deadline day deal over the line, which was their first incoming since the August 10 arrival of veteran free agent midfielder Sam Morsy, meaning the Paez deal didn't happen, and given Nixon's report, it can be assumed that Mowbray reneged on the potential agreement.

Kendry Paez now set for Chelsea stay despite Celtic interest

That could have left Scottish giants Celtic in pole position to land the teenager from Chelsea after Blackburn's apparent snub, but it looks like Paez will now remain at Stamford Bridge.

The BBC's Nizaar Kinsella reports that attempts were made by the west London outfit to find Paez a new temporary home after his River Plate stint faltered, but they proved to be unsuccessful, and it could now be a case of heading off to Chelsea's under-21's, given he's unlikely to be selected by Xabi Alonso.

And even though there is other international windows still open, they do not look like being explored for the attacking midfielder, leaving him in a bit of a pickle when he needs first-team experience.

Blackburn Rovers fans react to Kendry Paez deal not happening

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Some Blackburn fans appeared to be quite excited at the prospect of a South American wonderkid - who cost Chelsea around €20 million from Independiente del Valle - arriving to ply his trade at Ewood Park, but it wasn't to be.

This Rovers fan believes that Blackburn could be in trouble having not landed the creative midfielder.

This Rovers fan launched a message at sporting director Rudy Gestede, who has seemingly struggled to get new players into the club throughout the summer months.

One fan did not believe that there could be more bad news to come after news that a number of targets were being pursued on the final day of the window.

And this Blackburn supporter's prediction of only Gady Beyuku arriving at the club before the deadline was bang on, when it was all said and done.

Blackburn Rovers are seriously undercooked after summer transfer business

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After just above surviving the drop last season, many Blackburn fans were expecting some strengthening across the pitch, especially when they brought back Tony Mowbray to the club.

You'd have thought that the veteran coach would've been handed some assurances in order to return to Ewood Park, given he walked away the last time at the end of his contract, but it appears to be a case of the same old story.

There were no big-money sales or sell-on clauses coming in to help fund activity, which is what has happened in recent years with the exits of Sammie Szmodics, as well as the mass departures last summer with headliners like Dom Hyam, Callum Brittain and Lewis Travis - and some of last year's recruits in the form of SidneI Tavares, Dion De Neve and Axel Henriksson have proved to be busts.

Just three actual new faces have arrived though, a young right-back who might not get much game-time until Ryan Alebiosu is inevitably cashed in on, a midfielder in Sam Morsy who is in the latter stages of his career, and also Stockport winger Jayden Fevrier, and the jury is definitely out on him at Championship level.

Injuries to Alebiosu and Todd Cantwell, as well as a suspension for Tom Atcheson ahead of Saturday's Lancashire derby with Preston North End is the last thing that Mowbray needed after such an underwhelming window, and there could be loud reactions from the travelling crowd this coming weekend - and not in a good way for the Venky's.