Blackburn Rovers launch transfer offer for Aston Villa player with 'outstanding qualities' | OneFootball

The Championship side has made a bid for the Villa defender currently on loan in France

Blackburn Rovers have made a bid for 19-year-old Aston Villa defender Triston Rowe, who could be set for a return to England following a productive loan spell in France during the first half of the campaign.

Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider has reported that there is a break clause in the loan deal with Ligue 2 club FC Annecy, and several Championship sides are interested in bringing the England Under-20 international to their club.

Blackburn looks set to be the side leading that chase once the clause becomes active, but the report states that a couple of other second-tier sides are ready to rival their interest.

Valerien Ismael's side are currently battling against relegation in the Championship, and have already brought in defensive reinforcements from the loan market in the form of Brighton and Hove Albion centre-back Eiran Cashin.

The Blackburn boss doesn't seem done there, though, and the exciting right-back could be joining the Ewood Park ranks to help bolster that side, too.

Blackburn Rovers make offer for Aston Villa starlet

Per a report from Pete O'Rourke, Blackburn have made an offer to Aston Villa to secure the loan services of Rowe.

The 19-year-old has been with the Villa Park outfit since he joined from midlands rivals West Brom in 2021, and has progressed through the various youth teams before moving out on loan for the first time to FC Annecy in the French second division this past summer.

The initial deal was a season-long loan one, but after impressing in his 14 games in Ligue 2, at right-back, centre-back and even right midfield, Blackburn is interested in acting on the break clause when it becomes active this month and bringing him back to England on loan at Ewood Park.

Rowe is yet to make his senior bow in England, but has made matchday squads in every domestic competition while making seven EFL Trophy appearances for Villa's Under-21s and winning the FA Youth Cup with the Under-18s last season.

The teenager has been highly-rated at Villa Park for some time, and academy manager Mark Harrison dubbed Rowe as a player with "outstanding defensive qualities" following the agreement of a new long-term contract back in 2024.

Defensive frailties haven't been a major issue for Valerien Ismael's side thus far this season, with their 30 goals conceded the fewest out of any side in the bottom half of the Championship table.

This addition would help shore up an already solid backline, whilst also adding a bit of dynamism going forward from the back, which would help the league's third-worst side in terms of attacking output as well.

The Championship would be a big step up for Triston Rowe

Aston Villa would be keen to relocate Rowe back to the English second tier this January, as after impressing in the French second division in the opening half of the current campaign, moving to Blackburn would represent a big step-up in terms of league quality.

Ideally, that would help the 19-year-old progress and improve even further, with the idea of perhaps breaking into the fold at Villa Park or perhaps even earning a move elsewhere.

Either way, this move, if it were to be made, would be a big test for the young, versatile defender, especially given Blackburn's position down at the bottom of the table.

If Rowe can perform to a good standard for a side expected to continue battling against relegation throughout the rest of the campaign, he can count himself in good standing to continue that good momentum through into seasons to come.