Blackburn Rovers plotting League One transfer raid for 25-y/o midfielder | OneFootball

Blackburn Rovers are eyeing a fresh swoop for Stevenage midfielder Dan Phillips

Michael O'Neill's permanent Blackburn Rovers future remains uncertain, but the Ewood Park club already have one eye on the summer transfer window.

Blackburn's 3-1 win at Sheffield United on Wednesday saw them retain their Championship status, but the Lancashire outfit will hope to enjoy a more comfortable campaign next term.

Rovers host already relegated Leicester City in their last game of the season, and are vying to end a challenging campaign on a positive note.

O'Neill has overseen solid form since replacing Valerien Ismael in the Ewood Park dugout, but Blackburn must also enjoy a strong summer transfer window to bolster their chances of making progress in the Championship next term.

Blackburn Rovers plot new swoop for Stevenage star ahead of summer transfer window

Blackburn supporters have often been left frustrated by the lack of ambition that the Venky's ownership group have shown in the transfer market.

For example, Rovers narrowly missed out on the play-offs last season, but they have been unable to build on that this term, and instead found themselves worried by the threat of relegation to League One at the business end of the campaign.

However, reporting via Patreon, journalist Alan Nixon has revealed that O'Neill's men are keen on making a fresh swoop for Stevenage midfielder Dan Phillips.

Nixon added that Rovers inquired about Phillips in January and have recently scouted him amid their search for a new leader in midfield, with Sondre Tronstad's contract set to expire this summer, as the Norwegian seeks a return to Scandinavian soil.

The 25-year-old has played a key role in Stevenage's League One play-off push, making 34 third-tier appearances, notching a goal and an assist in the process.

Alex Revell's men remain in a League One play-off spot, even though they were held to a 1-1 draw by Doncaster Rovers on Saturday, thanks to Billy Sharp's goal.

Phillips, meanwhile, hasn't featured for Stevenage since being sent off for violent conduct during a 5-1 defeat to Bolton Wanderers on 14 April.

Revell's side have to match or better both Luton Town and Plymouth Argyle's final day results to ensure that they finish sixth, rather than dropping out of the play-offs.

Blackburn's chances of signing Dan Phillips may hinge on Stevenage promotion push

Regardless of whether O'Neill stays at Blackburn, Phillips has excelled in League One for Stevenage this term, suggesting that he is capable of returning to the Championship.

The Trinidad and Tobago internationa - who has amassed 26 caps - made two Championship appearances for Watford in the 2020/21 season, before joining Scottish outfit St Johnstone in 2022.

Since returning to the EFL in the summer of 2024, Phillips has made 84 appearances for Stevenage across all competitions, helping them establish themselves in League One before launching this term's promotion challenge.

If Stevenage successfully land a third-tier play-off spot and reach the Championship, Phillips should be tempted to agree to new terms at his current club, while Nixon's report revealed that Revell's side also want to keep the midfielder.

The 25-year-old's contract expires this summer, so Blackburn could be able to sign him on a free transfer if the League One outfit fail to win promotion to the Championship.

Phillips should be tempted by the prospect of playing in the second tier next term, regardless of whether Revell's men clinch promotion to the Championship - this could be a pretty cheap raid for Blackburn if they can pull it off.