Exclusive: Blackburn Rovers in pole position to sign breakthrough defender | OneFootball

Non-league defender Junior Eccleston could soon be heading to Ewood Park

Blackburn Rovers are eyeing a move for a non-league sensation ahead of Monday's transfer deadline, Football League World has been exclusively informed.

Rovers are in somewhat of a precarious position in the Championship, as they are very much in a relegation battle this season as Valerien Ismael struggles to get a strong tune out of his squad at Ewood Park.

New arrivals have come this month though, with Danish forward Mathias Jorgensen joining from Bodø/Glimt and Brighton centre-back Eiran Cashin signing on loan for the remainder of the campaign after his temporary Birmingham City deal was terminated.

Ismael is eyeing more new recruits though before the window slams shut on February 2, and it's not just ready-made first-team players that are being eyed up - it's also ones for the future.

Blackburn Rovers leading chase for Sutton United teenager Junior Eccleston

FLW understands that Blackburn are looking at bolstering their crop of under-21's talent at the club with a move for Sutton United defender Junior Eccleston, who they are leading the chase for.

The 18-year-old defender has come through Sutton United's academy system, making his league debut for the South London outfit in September 2024 against Ebbsfleet, before taking in a loan spell with Walton & Hersham in the seventh tier of English football.

Having returned to Gander Green Lane for the 2025-26 National League season though, Eccleston has been a regular starter under manager Chris Agutter, with 20 appearances in England's fifth tier so far this season.

A versatile defender, Eccleston has mainly operated at right-back for Sutton, and in recent weeks has been utilised as a wing-back due to Agutter's move to a back three - he has scored once and assisted once in league action in 2025-26.

Under contract until the summer of 2027, Eccleston's services would need a fee to be paid by Blackburn if they are to bring the teenage defender to Lancashire, where he would potentially go straight into Rovers' under-21's, who play alongside other Category 1 academy systems in the Premier League 2 competition.

Given Ismael's lack of right wing-back options besides Ryan Alebiosu though, with Lewis Miller favoured as a right-sided defender in a back three, Eccleston could feasbily make it into the first-team squad in the near future, should Blackburn land the exciting 18-year-old's services before Monday's transfer deadline.