Blackburn Rovers would be making a "mistake" by sanctioning transfer exit for 27-year-old | OneFootball

Makhtar Gueye could be on his way out of Blackburn Rovers

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…

Despite the fact the English summer transfer window slammed shut at 7pm on September 1, clubs across the country still have the possibility of losing squad members hanging over them.

Blackburn Rovers' summer business generated plenty of intrigue as Valerien Ismael looked to mould the squad at Ewood Park into one he can very much call his 'own' during his first pre-season in charge of the East Lancashire outfit.

After taking over from now-Derby County boss John Eustace in February, the Frenchman was able to rectify a disastrous start to life at his new club, with Blackburn narrowly missing out on a Championship play-off spot for the first time since their relegation back into the EFL in 2012 after a strong end to the season.

Regardless, it was once again a hectic and chaotic summer in terms of activity in terms of both incomings and outgoings, with the likes of Lewis Travis eventually reuniting with Eustace at Pride Park, bringing a long-standing transfer saga which lasted almost the entire transfer window to a close.

Such developments did cause a mixed reaction among those at Ewood, and another development post-Deadline Day has also left sections of the Rovers fanbase rather perplexed.

Blackburn Rovers stance offered on "strange" Makhtar Gueye transfer developments amid Turkish interest

That is due to fresh reports coming out of Turkey, with journalist Resat Can Ozbudak revealing, via his X account, that Kocaelispor of the Süper Lig have made "significant progress" in their attempt to sign Makhtar Gueye from the Championship side.

Such developments have since been backed up by the Lancashire Telegraph, who claim that there is a strong possibility that the Senegalese forward departs Ewood Park in the coming days.

It has also been stated that the most likely outcome is that Gueye could move to the Izmit-based side on an initial loan move which may include either an option or obligation-to-buy at the end of the current season.

The timing of this transfer saga has come, largely, down to the fact that whilst English clubs had to finalise their own incomings by 7pm on Monday, September 1, clubs in Turkey have a longer window, with clubs able to conduct transfer activity right up to Friday, September 12 following the current international break.

As a result, Football League World's Blackburn Rovers fan pundit, Simon Middlehurst, is slightly confused by the fact Rovers could sanction a temporary exit, as replacements can only be sourced via the free agent market up until January.

"I think it would be a mistake (to let Gueye leave)," Middlehurst told FLW.

"I think he improved a lot last season as the season went on, and he became a bit more embedded into English football and really got a grasp on it towards the end of the season.

"I do know Valerien Ismael is keen to bring on Igor Tyjon on a much-more regular basis, so that may restrict Makhtar Gueye's minutes on the pitch.

"However, he is still a big part of the squad," Middlehurst explained.

"He's a strong, powerful striker. So I think it would be a strange move, especially now the deadline has gone and that we can't bring anybody else in.

"If we were to look on the free agent market, I think that would restrict the players that we could bring in who have got considerable experience and fitness."

Sanctioning Makhtar Gueye, Kocaelispor agreement would be a strange move by Blackburn Rovers

As Middlehurst, and many other Blackburn fans have referenced, it is the timing of this agreement that makes a potential sanctioning rather odd, with the club then limited in terms of potential replacements.

Ismael is extremely keen to aid the aforementioned Tyjon's development, which is understandable given persistent interest from Arsenal. However, it is crucial that the Rovers boss continues to utilise his experienced forward options as his side look to improve following a poor start to the campaign.

Gueye also has three of four years remaining on his contract at Ewood Park after moving from RWD Molenbeek last summer. After his starting minutes were also restricted last term, he may also be open to this move despite scoring six times and posting as many assists in 44 overall league appearances.