Exclusive: Blackburn Rovers closing in on transfer for Wales international - Ryan Alebiosu exit could follow | OneFootball

Rovers are nearing a deal for a new right-back, with speculation rife over the future of one of the club's stars

Blackburn Rovers are eyeing a second transfer deal with St Pauli ahead of Monday's transfer deadline along with their move for Dapo Afolayan - and it could have an impact on Ryan Alebiosu's future, Football League World understands.

Rovers are inside the Championship relegation zone, having been languishing between 16th and 23rd all season under Valerien Ismael, and are chasing reinforcements to bolster their squad before the window slams shut on February 2.

Ismael confirmed after his side were defeated by Hull City at Ewood Park that former Bolton Wanderers winger Dapo Afolayan was undergoing a medical to join from Bundesliga outfit St Pauli - but he may not be the only player arriving from the Hamburg-based club.

Blackburn Rovers eyeing Fin Stevens deal as Ryan Alebiosu speculation swirls

As reported by Pete O'Rourke, one of Blackburn's star players of the 2025-26 season - Ryan Alebiosu - has been the subject of a transfer offer from Genoa, with a €5 million (£4.3 million) bid being submitted by the Italian side - just half a year after the former Arsenal academy graduate joined Rovers from Kortrijk.

Current Genoa right-back Brooke Norton-Cuffy is on the verge of a move to Inter Milan, with Alebiosu lined up as a replacement at the Serie A club, and although Ismael claimed that the final days of the transfer window is not the right time to cash in on the Nigeria international, the Frenchman did not point blank state that he would not be departing Ewood Park.

FLW can exclusively reveal that a replacement for Alebiosu is already being lined up by Blackburn, as they look to sign former Brentford right-back Fin Stevens, with a deal to bring him to Lancashire edging closer.

The 22-year-old is currently with Bundesliga side FC St. Pauli, but has previously had loans in the EFL with Oxford United and Swansea City.

The twice-capped Welsh international is seen by Rovers as a replacement for Alebiosu, should he make the move to Genoa or another club, with Rovers currently operating on a one in, one out basis in the transfer window.

Like Alebiosu, Stevens came through the ranks with Arsenal, albeit he was in the age group below the current Blackburn man.

However, he has moved abroad to try and further his career in the last few years - it's not really worked out though, with Stevens having only featured twice for the German side since making the move back at the start of the 2024/25 season.

Stevens has been in seven Bundesliga matchday squads for St. Pauli this season but is yet to make an appearance, and before the transfer window slams shut on February 2, there's a big chance that he could make the move to Ewood Park along with current team-mate Afolayan.