Exclusive: Lee Hendrie reacts as Norwich City chase Blackburn Rovers transfer - One issue raised | OneFootball

Lee Hendrie believes Tyrhys Dolan may struggle to replace Borja Sainz at Carrow Road

Blackburn Rovers forward Tyrhys Dolan has been linked with a move to Norwich City following the expiration of his contract at Ewood Park.

According to Pink Un, the 23-year-old is high up on the Canaries’ list of targets this summer, as they approach what is sure to be a hectic transfer window.

Borja Sainz enjoyed a standout 2024/25 campaign at Carrow Road, netting 18 goals and providing four assists.

This excellent return has warranted reported interest from a number of La Liga clubs, leading the recruitment team at Norwich to outline some potential replacements, such as Dolan.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Sky Sports pundit and former Aston Villa midfielder, Lee Hendrie, commended Dolan’s talent but questioned his ability to fill the potential void left by Sainz.

Lee Hendrie issues Tyrhys Dolan verdict amid Norwich City rumours

“He's a very similar player to Sainz,” stated Hendrie. “At times, the only thing that I've questioned is his lack of consistency.

“There's no doubt that there is a talent in there. It's just whether the jump and a move away from Blackburn might just bring that out, as we've seen many times when players have gone to Norwich.

“They seem to recruit well, bring players in, and give them an identity. But what Sainz did last season will be very, very hard to replace.

“Dolan would be a similar sort of player who can take people on from wide areas. But to replace Sainz, I couldn't really put him in that category.

“As I said, if you start getting a consistent Dolan, then maybe the move might inspire him to really go and kick on. Overall, I think he'd be a good addition for Norwich.”

Tyrhys Dolan could be a wise addition for Norwich City

After a disappointing 2024/25 campaign, where the Canaries finished 13th in the Championship, the Suffolk side are looking to lay down a marker early in the transfer window.

Bristol City manager Liam Manning is expected to fill the vacant space in the Carrow Road home dugout, with Norwich expected to fork out a compensation fee of £800,000 for the 39-year-old’s services.

Now, the Canaries are attempting to pry Dolan out of Blackburn’s grasp, with it confirmed that Rovers have offered the forward an opportunity to extend his five-year stay at Ewood Park.

With Sainz and Josh Sargent both likely to depart Carrow Road this summer, Dolan may not fill the void, but would add an exciting talent to the club’s frontline.

At just 23 years of age, the former Preston North End academy man could still improve massively, especially under Manning who is known to enjoy developing young talent.

13 goal involvements last term was a decent return for the forward, and certainly something that could be built upon in the future.

Although losing their top scorer isn’t ideal for the Norwich City faithful, acquiring Dolan could be a solid addition at the start of a new era for the club.