Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers submit enquiries to sign 27-year-old | OneFootball

The Championship duo have enquired about former Hearts left-back James Penrice

Both Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers finished at opposite ends of the Championship last season, but both will hope to bolster their squads to have a better campaign in 2026/27.

Boro fell short in the play-off final after running out of steam towards the end of the regular season. The two wins in their final 10 games saw them go from clear automatic promotion favourites to a side who ended up finishing fifth.

Meanwhile, Blackburn looked to be in some real trouble under Valerien Ismael, but five wins and five draws in their final 15 games under Michael O'Neill dragged them out of relegation danger and ensured they'd remain in the Championship.

Both sides have eyes on improvement, whether that be going one better and finishing in the top two from Boro's point of view, or making sure that no relegation battle is being fought at Ewood Park, and both have eyes on improving their defensive lines with a Greek champion.

Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers enquire over James Penrice

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Both Middlesbrough and Blackburn had strong defences relative to where they finished. Kim Hellberg's side conceded the second-fewest goals in the division, and Rovers were only nine behind them. Their 56 conceded was the joint fifth-best.

The two sides are looking to strengthen their backline with AEK Athens left-back James Penrice and have both made enquiries over the 27-year-old, according to Ben Jacobs.

Penrice was part of the Athens side who won the Greek Super League, bringing the title back to the capital for the first time since the 2017/18 campaign, and bringing an end to three consecutive second-placed finishes.

Before then, the 27-year-old played in his native Scotland up until last season for the likes of Hearts, Livingston and Partick Thistle. He called the move to Greece last summer "life-changing," but he could be on his way out a year later.

Penrice made just 14 appearances in the league phase of the Greek Super League, and another four times in the play-offs. The majority of those were starts, but when he wasn't starting, he'd find himself as an unused substitute.

The left-back started just once in their UEFA Conference League campaign, which spanned 10 games and saw them knocked out at the quarter-final stage.

Penrice may be keen for more game time after his one-year stint sharing the left-back spot at AEK Athens, and a move to the EFL could see that materialise. Rangers are also said to be interested in him, but are yet to approach to bring him back to Scotland.

James Penrice would be tested in the EFL if he was to move to Middlesbrough or Blackburn Rovers

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Middlesbrough are likely on the hunt for a new starting left-back this summer, after a permanent move for Matt Targett wasn't explored at the Riverside after his loan spell from Newcastle United.

Meanwhile, Blackburn could be on the lookout for some upgrades in the position, and if the 27-year-old can replicate any of his form seen at Hearts in his final year before the move to Greece, he could be a solid option for Tony Mowbray and a threat on the opposite side to Ryan Alebiosu.

Per Fotmob, alongside his seven assists from left-back, Penrice ranked in the top 10% of players in his position for successful crosses, chances and big chances created in the 2024/25 SPL campaign.

He didn't have the greatest of seasons in Greece, so he will be tested in the second tier, but only time will tell whether he'd be able to replicate some of his numbers from Hearts, if a deal is struck.