Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City eye move for ex-Millwall star on one condition | OneFootball

Blackburn and Stoke are weighing up offers for former Millwall defender Danny McNamara

Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City will once again be competing in the Championship next season, having both secured survival, some closer than others, as both sides prepare to avoid another scrap at the bottom of the division next time around.

Blackburn and Stoke, on the whole, had disappointing years in the Championship.

Blackburn finished in 20th, five points above the drop, with Michael O'Neill coming into the club to execute a successful rescue mission, while Stoke slipped away from an almost certain top-half finish to 17th, eight points above the drop.

Injuries didn't help either club's fortunes, with key players from both sides spending significant periods out of action and thus impacting the team's performances and results.

Both will be looking to utilise the upcoming summer transfer window to the best of their ability, and are both seemingly weighing up offers for a free agent to bolster their defensive options, but only on one condition.

Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City are weighing up offers for former Millwall defender Danny McNamara on one condition

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Right-back is a strong position for both Blackburn and Stoke, with either side possessing an excellent first-choice option in that area.

At Ewood Park, Nigerian international Ryan Alebiosu has locked down that position as his own since his summer switch from Belgian side KV Kortrijk for around £500k.

Both Everton and Wolfsburg were interested in his services as recently as January, whilst Italian side Genoa saw a bid worth €5 million (£4.3 million) rebuffed by the Lancashire-based outfit.

Meanwhile, Stoke have Cameroonian international Junior Tchamadeu as the first choice right-back, having developed excellently since joining the club from League Two Colchester United in the summer of 2023, and recently signing a new two-year deal in Staffordshire.

However, both clubs are aware of their need for strong backup, and whilst they each have cover available to some degree, neither appears to be content with their options, as Alan Nixon has reported that Blackburn and Stoke have former Millwall defender Danny McNamara on standby.

McNamara, 27, has spent his entire professional career contracted to Millwall, and aside from a few loans out to the likes of Newport County and St Johnstone, has made 166 appearances for the Lions across all competitions.

He has suffered a variety of injuries over the past couple of seasons, and the emergence of Tristan Crama at right-back has limited his minutes this year.

Though, the defender's time at The Den has now come to an end following the end of his deal, as the former Irish youth international searches for a new permanent home for the first time in his career.

With over 150 Championship appearances under his belt at 27, McNamara presents a solid option for any second-tier club on the hunt for a new full-back this summer to come in and offer stiff competition, with both Blackburn and Stoke taking a look.

However, Nixon also states that either club will only make formal offers should they move on players first, with no deal looking imminent as yet.

Competition for McNamara will likely heat up as the window progresses, as Blackburn and Stoke should consider changing their stances on the defender if they want to secure his services for the next campaign, otherwise they risk missing out.

Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City must ensure strong summer windows are had amid Danny McNamara links

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Having both endured disappointing campaigns, Blackburn and Stoke cannot afford to let the summer window pass them by, and must act with swiftness, conviction, and ambition.

Blackburn narrowly missed out on a place in the Championship play-offs in 2025, but have regressed massively since, whilst the Potters have finished in the bottom half of every league they have been in for the last decade, with a malaise firmly set in the Potteries.

McNamara, whilst it isn't exactly the most inspiring bit of business, offers a wealth of Championship experience and a more than competent option on the right side of defence, and could be exactly what either side needs to kick off their summer business.