Blackburn Rovers: Ben Brereton Diaz, Tony Mowbray reunion should be on the cards | OneFootball

Tony Mowbray's return to Ewood Park could make Ben Brereton Diaz the perfect summer addition

Blackburn Rovers have confirmed the return of Tony Mowbray as manager following Michael O’Neill’s exit.

The 62-year-old departed Ewood Park four years ago when his contract expired, and most supporters were disappointed to see him go after leading the team to an eighth place finish in the Championship.

The Lancashire outfit missed out on a play-off place by just six points, and the team showed real progress after earning promotion back to the second tier under Mowbray in 2018.

Blackburn struggled for form this season, coming 20th in the table and avoiding relegation by just five points.

And the experienced coach has already admitted that transfer funds will be limited this summer in what could be a tricky period for the club.

Rovers will need to be smart in the transfer market in order to bolster the squad, and the academy system may prove a very useful asset for the upcoming campaign.

Tony Mowbray must seek Blackburn reunion this summer

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One signing that Blackburn must seek this summer is to bring Ben Brereton Diaz back to Ewood Park following Mowbray’s return.

The forward spent this campaign on loan at Derby County from Southampton, having struggled for regular minutes since arriving at St. Mary’s in 2024, and he is likely to be available again when the market opens later this month.

The 27-year-old was a fan favourite during his time with Rovers, and he found the best form of his career under Mowbray.

He contributed an impressive 22 goals and three assists in 2021/22 as the Championship side narrowly missed out on a play-off place.

In the years since, he has been unable to hit those same heights under managers like Jon Dahl Tomasson and John Eustace.

While he had a solid season at Pride Park, contributing seven goals and three assists, it’s clear that he was not firing on all cylinders either.

Reuniting with Mowbray at Ewood Park could potentially be what helps him get back on track and to his best again.

And a fully firing Brereton Diaz is just what Blackburn will need to get back to a competitive level.

Blackburn will need additional firepower under Tony Mowbray

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Blackburn scored a total of just 42 times in the Championship this season, with their top scorer Yuki Ohashi finding the back of the net on only 10 occasions.

If the Lancashire outfit are going to get back to competing for a play-off place, as they did just 12 months ago, then they will need greater firepower in the final third.

Brereton Diaz can fit naturally as either a number nine, or out on the left where the team lacks natural options, making him an ideal signing for Mowbray, who is likely to shift to a back four after O'Neill utilised a back three formation at Ewood Park.

Brereton Diaz could work well with Ohashi, as he is comfortable dropping deeper to link up play, which could open up space for the forward to come in from the left, where he enjoyed some of his best form for Blackburn.

With Moussa Baradji's loan spell now over, his departure also opens up an obvious gap in the team that the Southampton forward can slot right into.

However, if Mowbray does opt to use him through the middle, then that could spell trouble for Andri Gudjohnsen, who already struggled for consistent starts in his first season in the Championship.

Given Brereton Diaz should be available again on loan, with his Saints contract running until June 2028, he would be a smart move to come in at a reasonable cost.

Blackburn will need to be smart this summer to maximise their returns from their lack of funds, and the loan and free agents market could prove crucial.

There are no guarantees that the Chile international will be able to rediscover his best form, but it would be a worthwhile gamble to see if it’s possible.

Because there will be no better man for the job to bring the best out of him than the man who previously oversaw the pinnacle of his career so far.