Blackburn Rovers set to complete post-season £2m transfer raid | OneFootball

Blackburn have made Moussa Baradji's loan move a permanent one for just £2 million after securing Championship survival

Blackburn Rovers have secured their Championship status for another year after a bit of a scare, and managed to do so with one game to spare, whilst their summer business is already underway.

A tricky year at Ewood Park ends with an overriding feeling of relief, with Blackburn having preserved their status in the second tier for another year, though it has been far from comfortable.

Valerien Ismael was replaced by former Stoke City boss Michael O'Neill in February, with the Northern Irishman being brought in to do a similar job with the Potters as he had done six years prior.

The 56-year-old has completed his task of keeping Blackburn afloat and has since been offered a three-year deal to stay in Lancashire beyond this campaign and oversee the club's rebuild this summer, though he has yet to accept.

Despite uncertainty surrounding who will be in the dugout at Ewood Park next season, this hasn't stopped the club from already making their first piece of transfer business.

Blackburn have sealed the £2 million addition of Moussa Baradji following a successful loan spell

It was a difficult summer window for Blackburn, who were resigned to seeing some of their most important players leave, including the likes of Lewis Travis, Dom Hyam, Callum Brittain, Tyrhys Dolan, Danny Batth, and Andreas Weimann, with a huge core of their side being ripped away.

To replace them were the likes of Ryan Alebiosu, Lewis Miller, Ryoya Morishita, Sean McLoughlin, and Moussa Baradji, each of whom has done solid enough jobs since their arrivals.

Baradji, in particular, has fared well in his first season in the second tier despite the circumstances, having joined on loan from Swiss side Yverdon, with an option to make that move permanent at the end of the season.

Now, Blackburn have wasted no time in turning the Frenchman's move permanent for just £2 million, including add-ons, as, according to Alan Nixon, O'Neill himself is said to have sanctioned the deal.

This would suggest that the Northern Irishman is indeed eyeing up a permanent stay in Lancashire, though with him yet to sign on the dotted line, it can't quite be certain.

Baradji had no pre-season due to undergoing foot surgery, and has struggled to get up to speed since his move to the British Isles. Though despite this, he has still managed 32 league appearances for Rovers, scoring twice, both coming in the same game against Charlton Athletic when he deputised as a centre-forward.

The Frenchman will be looking to kick on heading into next season, this time with a full pre-season under his belt, in which he has previously expressed the importance of, saying: "It was very tough, really difficult.

"I just wanted to play football but I had to have surgery. I had to stay here to recover. It was a tough few months for me in order to come back and play again.

"Every game I feel better but I don't think I am 100 per cent. I haven't had a pre-season which is very important for the season.

"I hope for the next season I will stay 100 per cent fit. I think that I am getting better, I am working hard in training.

"I think next season, I will be better. Without a pre-season, it can be difficult to go game after game in the season."

Indeed, Blackburn fans will also be hoping that Baradji can improve going into the next campaign, with his £2 million addition kicking off their transfer window just after the season has finished, with Rovers wasting no time in getting this deal over the line.

Blackburn will be hoping Michael O'Neill stays with the club following Moussa Baradji's permanent addition

With a record of five wins, five draws, and five defeats in 15 games, O'Neill has done enough to get Blackburn over the line, and with the club showing their gratitude in the form of a fresh deal beyond this campaign, the Northern Irishman could well be tempted by the offer.

His previous spell in club management with Stoke ended under a cloud, though he is still fondly remembered for his time in the Potteries despite his lack of spending power.

He will be hoping for a bit more money to spend this summer if he were to take the job permanently, and the addition of Baradji may help to sweeten the deal.

Blackburn will be hoping to head into next campaign with Baradji fully fit and O'Neill at the helm, ahead of what will hopefully be a more prosperous year in Lancashire.