Blackburn Rovers join Burnley in Middlesbrough transfer race as contract update drops | OneFootball

Dael Fry is a man in-demand at present amid his contract situation on Teesside

After the two clubs endured extremely contrasting fortunes in the final weeks and months of the 2025/26 season, Blackburn Rovers and Burnley will be contesting the historic East Lancashire derby once more next season at Championship level.

The local rivals are two of the country's most historic sides, but in recent times, haven't exactly had the best of on-pitch results, albeit the Clarets have spent two of the past three seasons as a Premier League side.

That said, it still remains to be seen who will take charge at Turf Moor at the beginning of yet another gruelling 46-game Championship campaign, in which Burnley will be expected to rival the likes of their newly-relegated counterparts, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, in the promotion race, which will also include six teams in the post-season lottery of the play-offs, as opposed to the historic number of four.

Rovers, meanwhile, had continued their recent trend of backing up one season in which they were on the periphery of potentially breaking into the second tier's play-offs for the first time since their relegation from the Premier League way back in 2012 after a season of large inconsistency and struggle.

Indeed, a second relegation into League One within the last decade was very much on the cards until interim boss, Michael O'Neill, took charge at Ewood Park in February, balancing a return to Championship management with his duties as Northern Ireland chief, albeit they were unable to qualify for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

However, after a long-standing managerial search, it was confirmed on Friday that Tony Mowbray would return to BB2 for a second spell in charge after penning a 'long-term contract'.

And, it has now been claimed that, immediately, Blackburn are plotting a transfer raid from one of his former sides.

Blackburn Rovers join Burnley in transfer chase for Middlesbrough captain Dael Fry

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Indeed, the summer transfer window is now less than 10 days away from opening, and with Rovers looking to build on a largely strong end to the 2025/26 season and a 20th-placed finish, it has been claimed that they are one of the many clubs interested in acquiring Middlesbrough captain, Dael Fry, on a potential free transfer.

The aforementioned Mowbray, of course, has a long-standing history with his hometown club as both a player and a manager, with Fry currently emulating such a story on the pitch as a Boro academy graduate donning the armband.

Aside from a loan spell at Rotherham United, the 28-year-old has spent the entirety of his career at the Riverside Stadium, with 34 of his 296 appearances coming in 2025/26 under Rob Edwards and current head coach, Kim Hellberg.

However, it has been reported that Fry and his boyhood club are still confident of a positive resolution to their contract negotiations, with it previously being claimed that the centre-back still retains a strong desire to lead them back to the Premier League following their recent heartache in the Championship play-off final against Hull City at Wembley Stadium.

Meanwhile, it has come to light that Fry is of interest to Rovers' bitter rivals, Burnley, as the Clarets brace themselves for continued interest in highly-rated French centre-back, Maxime Esteve.

Middlesbrough's latest contract developments with Dael Fry revealed amid Blackburn Rovers, Burnley interest

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Amid Blackburn's interest, The Northern Echo have stated that negotiations between Fry and Middlesbrough have progressed somewhat, albeit more from the club's perspective.

Chiefs on Teesside are believed to have tabled their latest offer, with the defender yet to fully commit to fresh terms amid claims that he is not within the club's highest earners.

Indeed, it is ESTIMATED on Capology that the long-serving figure takes home a weekly wage packet of £5,577, which is slightly below that of Hayden Hackney.

The midfielder, and Championship's Player of the Season, is also in demand, mainly by Premier League side, Everton, meaning a huge part of Hellberg's core could depart the club within a matter of weeks, ahead of the 38-year-old's first pre-season at the Riverside, and a crucial one at that after missing out on a return to the top-flight on two counts.