Exclusive: Blackburn Rovers backed to sign ex-Wolves man - he has snubbed Birmingham City move | OneFootball

Lee Hendrie believes Blackburn Rovers should make a move for former Wolves defender Craig Dawson.

Pundit Lee Hendrie believes former Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Craig Dawson could be the perfect replacement for Dominic Hyam at Blackburn Rovers after his move to Wrexham.

It has been a disappointing start to the season for Blackburn, with Valerien Ismael's side losing three of their first four league games, and discontent with the ownership has been reignited this summer after the departure of a host of key players.

After the exits of the likes of Callum Brittain, Danny Batth, Lewis Travis, Tyrhys Dolan and Andreas Weimann, Hyam became the latest high-profile name to leave Ewood Park on deadline day when he was sold to Wrexham for a fee in the region of £2.7 million.

Hyam scored four goals in 135 appearances during his three-year spell in Lancashire, and with his departure being confirmed in the final hours of the transfer window, Rovers did not have time to sign a replacement, but it seems they could now be set to turn to the free agent market.

According to journalist Alan Nixon, Blackburn are plotting a move for Dawson, who remains a free agent after being released by Wolves at the end of his contract this summer.

Dawson reportedly turned down the chance to join Birmingham City on deadline day, with the Blues instead signing Jack Robinson from Sheffield United, but Rovers are now hoping to strike a deal with the 35-year-old as Ismael continues his search for defensive reinforcements.

Lee Hendrie reacts as Blackburn Rovers eye Craig Dawson deal

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Hendrie insisted that Dawson would be a good addition for Blackburn, despite being in the latter stages of his career, and he claimed that there are similarities between the ex-Wolves man and Hyam.

"Craig Dawson is an experienced player," Hendrie said.

"A replacement is definitely needed for Dom Hyam, and he is one that could come in and do that job, there is no doubt.

"Would I say they are similar? Yeah, there would be similarities.

"Experience comes with vast amounts of quality, even if he doesn't have the legs that used to be there.

"But in the Championship, it's about having that sort of clever nous as a defender, so I think he'd be a fair fit for Blackburn."

Craig Dawson arrival would solve big Blackburn Rovers problem after Dominic Hyam exit

Blackburn supporters may have some concerns about Dawson's age, while he has not played a single minute of competitive football since the end of December after falling out of favour under Vitor Pereira towards the end of his time at Wolves.

However, Dawson has spent the vast majority of his career in the Premier League, and with Rovers' defence looking light on experience and quality after Hyam's last-minute departure, he could be exactly the kind of player Ismael needs to bolster his defence.

Dawson is believed to have rejected a move to Birmingham, but given that the highly-rated Eiran Cashin is struggling to break up the partnership of Phil Neumann and Christoph Klarer, he may have had reservations over the amount of game time he would receive with the Blues.

While Dawson's place in the Blackburn team would not be guaranteed, he would have a much better chance of regular minutes at Ewood Park, and although his financial demands may be a stumbling block, the Lancashire outfit should look to get a deal over the line.