Blackburn Rovers player moves closer to Ewood Park exit - some fans cannot make sense of it | OneFootball

Makhtar Gueye is close to departing Blackburn, but Rovers fans are concerned, given the inability to bring in a replacement

Blackburn Rovers forward Makhtar Gueye is edging closer to departing Ewood Park, as Turkish side Kocaelispor have ramped up their interest in the 27-year-old.

Resat Can Ozbudak on X revealed that the Süper Lig outfit are keen on bringing in the Senegalese frontman, who has appeared off the bench in all four Championship games so far this season, with the Lancashire Telegraph also confirming that interest is legitimate and the towering striker could move on before that particular overseas window shuts next week.

Despite deadline day passing in England on September 1, clubs in Turkey still have time to bring players in, as their window doesn't close until Friday, 12 September.

Therefore, there's still a week for the likes of Kocaelispor to make signings, and the Blackburn forward is near the top of their transfer wishlist.

Rovers fans haven't welcomed these reports, however, as losing Gueye would leave them light up front, and they wouldn't be able to use the money brought in for the 27-year-old to replace him until January.

Kocaelispor increase interest in Makhtar Gueye as Blackburn Rovers exit looks likely

Resat Can Ozbudak on X has reported that Turkish Süper Lig side Kocaelispor have made significant progress in the transfer of Gueye.

The 27-year-old still has just under two years remaining of the three-year deal he signed at Blackburn upon his arrival from Belgian side RWD Molenbeek in July 2024.

The Senegalese striker's first season at the club saw him in and out of the starting 11, with 21 of his 44 Championship appearances coming from the bench.

His most prominent period in the starting lineup during his debut campaign came in a 12-game stretch between January and March, but Blackburn lost eight of those games.

So far this season, Valerien Ismael has used the six-foot-four frontman in an impact role from the bench, with Gueye being subbed on in each of the opening four Championship games. His only start this season came in the EFL Cup defeat to Bradford City.

Kocaelispor still have a week to finalise this deal, as their transfer window doesn't close until Friday, 12 September, and they're in desperate need of attacking reinforcement, as 'Korfez' have begun the season scoring just two goals and picking up one point in their opening four league games.

However, from a Blackburn perspective, losing Gueye would leave Valerien Ismael light in the attacking areas, as English sides can only add free agents between now and the January transfer window opening - teenage forward Igor Tyjon may also have to step up to support Yuki Ohashi and new signing Andri Gudjohnsen.

Blackburn Rovers fans show their frustration at Makhtar Gueye's departure reports

The summer transfer window has left a lot of Blackburn fans concerned about the season ahead, as Rovers said goodbye to a lot of important players with bags of Championship experience under their belt at Ewood Park.

Tyrhys Dolan, Joe Rankin-Costelloe, Callum Brittain, Lewis Travis and Dominic Hyam all bid farewell to the club in the summer, and all five have played a big role in the side over the past few years.

Whilst Gueye isn't as important as the aforementioned group, Blackburn fans aren't happy with the reports of another player leaving, especially given that they won't be able to spend any money to replace him for another four months.

Another Rovers fan believes that Gueye is a useful option off the bench when chasing a game, and that they may regret letting him depart after their own window has closed.

Perhaps quite harshly, another Blackburn fan has described Gueye as "terrible" if he is starting matches, although that suggests they prescribe to the feeling that he's a far more effective weapon off the bench.

There are others though that once more cannot make much sense of letting Gueye depart when potential replacement options are restricted to freebies and youth players.

It's not been the easiest summer for Blackburn fans, and the results on the pitch haven't been stellar, either, with just three points picked up in their opening four games.

Whilst Gueye isn't first-choice by any means at Ewood Park, losing a bench option without anyone able to immediately come in and replace him would be another move which would create question marks around Blackburn's business this summer.