West Brom and Leicester City face Blackburn Rovers transfer cringe - but Bolton won't care | OneFootball

One man is flourishing for Blackburn this season and rival clubs will have contrasting feelings about his form.

Many expected Blackburn Rovers to struggle again this season and if it were not for one man's early season performances, then the table could make for more worrying reading.

Rovers finished just six points and two places above the relegation zone last term and if it were not for West Brom and Leicester City's points deductions, then the club may have been playing League One football this time round.

Tony Mowbray's side have been pretty impressive in front of goal, with five goals in their last two outings against Millwall and Portsmouth, and that could be a defining factor in how their season unfolds.

Despite not notching a single goal in his first few months at Ewood Park, Dapo Afolayan has been a revelation for Blackburn so far this term, but how do the Baggies, the Foxes and former club Bolton Wanderers feel about his fine form?

Inside Blackburn Rovers, West Brom and Leicester City's pursuit of Dapo Afolayan

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In the summer of 2025, West Brom, Leicester and Blackburn were all reportedly interested in bringing Afolayan back to English football.

The winger was playing Bundesliga football with FC St. Pauli, having earned promotion to the German top flight the season prior, notching nine goals and three assists.

Afolayan had struggled to hit the same numbers in the Bundesliga, making five league goal contributions in 32 appearances, with St. Pauli open to letting him leave.

However, while he remained at the German outfit beyond the summer window, he received more interest in the following winter window, with Rovers securing his services.

Afolayan is thriving at Ewood Park

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Afolayan wasted no time in building on an underwhelming start at Ewood Park, notching a key assist as Mowbray's men earned an impressive point against Wolves on the opening day of the season.

After bagging a goal in Blackburn's Carabao Cup defeat to Sheffield United, the winger has since picked up his performances again, delivering three goals and an assist against Millwall and Portsmouth as the club have taken four points from their last two.

The 29-year-old dazzled in both of those encounters with Man of the Match performances and is among the top goal and assist contributors in the Championship.

While West Brom have started the season superbly under James Morrison, none of their wingers have contributed a goal yet, meaning they may regret not acting on their interest in Afolayan.

As for Leicester, they have had a mixed start to life in League One, but a player of Afolayan's quality would have been a cheat code in the third tier should they have acquired him.

Why Bolton Wanderers will be relaxed about Afolayan's form

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Afolayan spent two years with Bolton Wanderers, including a short loan spell, and was a revelation during his first full season with the club.

After just one goal and two assists for the Trotters in League Two, he stepped up his performances in League One, notching an impressive 12 goals and four assists.

The winger departed the Toughsheet Community Stadium in January 2023 and while his contributions may have been missed, others have thrived in his absence.

After a tricky start to the Championship season, Steven Schumacher's side have picked up some significant results of late with their 4-3 victory over Norwich City, one of the standout results in the division to date.

Thierry Gale has been a threat, bagging two in the Trotters' last two, while the club have won every league game when he has found the back of the net.

As well as Gale, summer loan signing Kyliane Dong has also flourished on the flank, contributing two assists in his last three appearances, highlighting the strength in depth Schumacher has on the wings.