Blackburn Rovers plot move for £1m midfielder | OneFootball

Blackburn Rovers are keen to sign Stevenage midfielder in the summer after missing out on him in January.

Blackburn Rovers are keen to add Stevenage midfielder Daniel Phillips to their ranks in the summer, after being quoted £1m by the League One outfit in the January transfer window.

The Blue and Whites are in a relegation dogfight at the bottom of the Championship, and are without a manager following the departure of Valerien Ismael, who was sacked after an eight-match winless run.

The Lancashire club did strengthen in the January transfer window, with the likes of Mathias Jorgensen, Dapo Afolayan, and Eiran Cashin all making moves to Ewood Park, but according to new reports, they missed out on a top midfield target.

According to journalist Alan Nixon via his Patreon page on Sunday morning, Blackburn were keen to sign Stevenage midfielder Phillips in the winter, but they were quoted £1m by the League One side following a late inquiry.

However, Nixon has stated that Blackburn's pursuit of the 25-year-old isn't over, and the Boro star is now on their radar as a potential summer transfer target.

Blackburn Rovers to chase Stevenage's Daniel Phillips in the summer after late January enquiry

Blackburn fell into the relegation zone on Saturday following their 2-0 defeat to Norwich City, and with the transfer window now over, many supporters have been left fearing the worst for the managerless club.

However, with the recruitment period now over, all that can be done is hope that the current crop of players Rovers have are good enough to keep them in the Championship, but that doesn't mean preparation for the summer can't start now.

According to reports from Nixon, it has, as the Lancashire club are eyeing up a summer move for Stevenage midfielder Phillips, who has been a standout for Alex Revell's side since his arrival from St Johnstone in 2024.

Boro started the season strongly, and looked like a shock promotion contender. However, in recent weeks, the Hertfordshire club have been in free fall, which has seen them fall outside the play-off places.

It's believed that Phillips is ready to make the step-up to the Championship, and Blackburn are said to be weighing him up regardless of the division they find themselves in next season as a replacement for the out-of-contract Sondre Tronstad.

Nixon also revealed that the Blue and Whites tried to sign Phillips late in the January window, but were quoted £1m by Stevenage, which saw them cool their interest in the midfielder, until the summer at least.

Daniel Phillips would be a smart addition for Blackburn regardless of their divisional status

As mentioned, Phillips has been a stalwart in the midfield for Stevenage since his arrival in 2024. His powerful presence sitting in as a holding midfielder has been integral to his side's stability over the last few years.

An international with Trinidad and Tobago too, the 25-year-old still has plenty of room to improve his game, and make that step-up to the Championship.

With that in mind, Phillips would be an excellent addition for Blackburn next season, regardless of the division they find themselves in.

Should they beat the drop and remain in the Championship, the signing of the midfielder would see them get a hungry, powerful player, who is keen to impress and make the step-up, having proven himself in League One.

On the other hand, if Rovers do go down, signing Phillips is a great way to start a rebuild, with a player who has already acclimatized to the division with his experience at Stevenage, and can grow with Blackburn as they rebuild themselves.