Complication for Blackburn Rovers as they eye Hull City deal | OneFootball

John Eustace wants to reinforce his defensive unit this summer.

Highlights

Blackburn Rovers face competition from overseas for one of their summer transfer targets - Hull City's Sean McLoughlin.

The Tigers' vice-chairman, Tan Kelser, has claimed that a team from abroad has put in an "official offer" for the Irishman following revelations about Rovers' interest in him.

Alan Nixon reported that the central defender was being looked at by Blackburn and that he may be available for £500,000 this summer.

John Eustace's side are also known to be interested in former Leeds United captain Liam Cooper. Nixon initially said that his age and wage demands, in comparison to McLoughlin, made the 27-year-old the better option for them.

The Lancashire Telegraph has since stated that Cooper would be willing to lower his asking price, providing Blackburn with a suitable alternative option, should McLoughlin go somewhere that isn't Ewood Park this summer.

Overseas offer for Blackburn target Sean McLoughlin

Kesler said that the interest that is being shown in the likes of the central defender represents the good work that the club have been doing to develop its players. He added that they will be happy to keep him if he wants to stay, and the likely reason for McLoughlin's departure, if it comes, will be because of minutes and not money.

"The only thing that I can tell you is that I'm so happy because that shows how much of a good process we have that we develop these players and we put them in the market and a lot of clubs are interested," said the Hull vice-chairman to BBC Humberside.

"Again, I can't say anything other than that to it, but to establish what I mean is this. When we came in we said we don't want to sell any of our players, and our chairman said it openly, and I'm an advocate for it, but if the player wants to go then we are more than happy to understand what the market is.

"So all of these links, for us, are just a justification of how well of a job we've done, and we've never put any price on any of our players. So in this case, yes, there is interest in Sean."

"Nothing concrete, only Sean's had an official offer from abroad," added Kesler.

Liam Cooper should be Blackburn's preferred choice

Capology estimates that the Scotsman earns two-and-a-half times the amount that McLoughlin does per week (£25,000 to £10,000). For a club that isn't in the strongest financial position, it is very understandable that this would play a huge factor in who to go for.

However, if you are equally willing to believe the local reports that he is willing to lower his wage demands, and is also willing to join Rovers, then it should be a fairly easy choice for Blackburn to make.

Not only does Cooper have more experience, which is always a handy quality, but he's also got it at a much higher level, with a few seasons in the Premier League under his belt.

Even in this latter stage of his career (he's only 32), that knowhow that will be needed to get the club out from near the relegation zone would be so helpful for them to have.

Keeping Sammie Szmodics, who led the Championship in individual goals last season, will also be a big help to them. Despite reports linking him with a £6 million move to Ipswich Town, no proposal has come in for the Irish international, as per the Lancashire Telegraph.