Blackburn Rovers urged against beating Millwall in Sheffield Wednesday transfer race - 'the issue is' | OneFootball

FLW's Blackburn fan pundit gives his verdict on the rumours linking the 20-year-old with a switch to Ewood Park from Sheffield Wednesday

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

A new striker is atop the transfer wishlist for plenty of Blackburn Rovers fans, after an opening half to the campaign which has seen Valerien Ismael's side struggle to find the back of the net frequently.

The desires have been heightened due to the imminent departure of towering frontman Makhtar Gueye, but even then, his goal output wouldn't have needed to be replaced anyway, as the 28-year-old had failed to score in any of his 17 appearances in all competitions this season.

Indeed, added firepower would have been required at Ewood Park regardless, and after watching his side fail to score for the fourth time in the last five games against Hull City in the FA Cup on Sunday, FLW's Blackburn fan pundit, Simon Middlehurst, is desperate for his side to bring in a proven goalscorer in the coming days.

Unfortunately for him, though, the main concrete links at the top end are with Sheffield Wednesday's Bailey Cadamarteri, and with just two goals in 25 Championship games this season, he isn't too enthused with them.

Blackburn Rovers fan pundit not excited with Bailey Cadamarteri, Sheffield Wednesday links

Sheffield Wednesday will be desperate not to let any of their current crop of players depart this January, with their threadbare squad already being pushed to its limit this season.

However, interest from Hibernian, which resulted in a rejected bid from the Owls, Blackburn, according to Alan Nixon, and, per an exclusive Football League World report, Millwall, may result in the 20-year-old frontman departing Hillsborough for pastures new in the coming weeks.

Middlehurst hopes that it'll be either Hibs or Millwall that act on that interest, rather than his Rovers side.

"He'd be another body in the door. The only issue is that he isn't an out-and-out goalscorer, which is what we're lacking," he told FLW.

"If you watched the game against Hull in the FA Cup, we had no firepower whatsoever, so ideally we need to be looking at strikers who are constant goal scorers, and I don't think that Cadamarteri is there yet.

"He only has two this season, so I don't think he'd be a decent replacement for Gueye. He may be in terms of Championship experience and ability, but we need to be looking at a consistent goalscorer."

Bailey Cadamarteri has a high ceiling, but Blackburn Rovers need to act for now, rather than the future

It's always exciting to bring in a young prospect, and in Cadamarteri, there are plenty of upsides. The striker doesn't turn 21 until May, and having already made over 70 EFL appearances, the young frontman has more experience than most his age.

But Blackburn are currently teetering rather precariously above the bottom three, and they need to approach this window with an eye on plugging the gaps necessary to remain in the division this season.

Bringing in someone who is a little older and more seasoned up top, who can score the goals necessary to keep Valerien Ismael's side in the division, needs to be the priority, rather than someone who, granted, could see Blackburn make a decent profit in the future, but perhaps doesn't help them out as much in the short-term.

As Middlehurst said, Cadamarteri would be "another body" in the Ewood Park dressing room, and if he comes in alongside another high-profile attacking arrival, not many would bat an eyelid.