Blackburn Rovers: The Venkys will be licking their lips if Everton transfer interest returns | OneFootball

Everton could do their summer shopping for a right-back at Ewood Park, reigniting interest in Ryan Alebiosu

After a few close shaves and a period towards the end of Valerien Ismael's time at the club, where it looked as if they were doomed, Blackburn Rovers will be remaining in the Championship for next season.

A busy summer is on the cards at Ewood Park, with the future of interim boss Michael O'Neill up in the air, alongside plenty of playing personnel who could be on the move during the offseason, too.

Blackburn have been no strangers to a big player sale in recent years, with the likes of Sammie Szmodics, Adam Wharton, and Adam Armstrong all making eight-figure moves to the Premier League.

And ultimately, those sales have been necessary for Rovers to remain operating under the ownership of the Venkys. Their last financial reports saw them lose £10.4 million during the 2024/25 campaign, and that included £13 million profit from player sales, mainly made up from the departure of Szmodics to Ipswich Town.

With the constant financial demands, Blackburn will be hoping that top-flight interest can re-emerge in right-back Ryan Alebiosu, as the Venkys will likely look to once again cash in on one of their top assets to fund incomings,

Ryan Alebisou was a wanted man in January - some at Blackburn Rovers will want interest to return

It's been a brilliant return to England for Alebiosu in his debut year at Ewood Park, with the former Arsenal academy product making the move to Blackburn this past summer from Belgian outfit KV Kortrijk.

Overall, Rovers have suffered an almighty drop-off from their play-off push last season, but despite battling relegation, the 24-year-old Nigerian international has quickly established himself as one of the premier attacking full-backs in the second tier.

Per Fotmob, Alebiosu ranks among the top right-backs when it comes to successful dribbles, successful crosses and chances created, with a good handful of assists in a side that has struggled for goals at large this season.

Therefore, it was no surprise that he garnered interest from sides in the top five European leagues back in January, just months after making the move to Blackburn.

Everton, Wolfsburg, Sassuolo and Genoa were all credited with interest, and the latter actually had a £4.3 million bid knocked back towards the end of the window.

Understandably, Blackburn didn't want to go into the second half of the season without one of their top-performing players, but with a full summer window to try and find a replacement, the Venky's may be quietly hoping that interest in Alebiosu returns, especially given that he'll likely warrant a larger fee, too.

The 24-year-old arrived for an undisclosed fee, but given the fact that he was seemingly surplus to requirements at KV Kortrijk, having spent the latter half of his final year at the club on loan at SPL side St Mirren, that fee would likely have been nominal.

So, a high seven-figure, or even an eight-figure bid, wouldn't be one that Blackburn would find difficult to turn down, as they look to maximise the profits on their assets.

Everton will need a new right-back this summer, and Blackburn Rovers may hope they turn to Ryan Alebiosu

The right-back position at Everton has been a hot topic of debate for several years now. Since Seamus Coleman entered the twilight years of his career, the Premier League side hasn't been able to replace him properly.

Jake O'Brien has done a good job there this season, but he's very much a defensive-minded full-back who is arguably more apt to play in the middle of the back four. Nathan Patterson hasn't been given much of an opportunity by David Moyes, and even James Garner has been shoehorned into the back-line at times this season.

So, an overlapping, attack-minded right-back will be on the summer shopping list at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, and Alebiosu fits that bill perfectly. It's no real surprise that he was of interest to the Toffees in January.

The 24-year-old may not have the immediate Premier League qualities that the likes of Wharton or Szmodics had before him, but there's no doubting his potential to improve with gametime, as exhibited in the Championship this season.

Perhaps Everton return to Ewood Park to try and plug that gap in their defence. But if they do, the Venkys will be ensuring that they can maximise as much of a profit as they can for the Nigerian international.