Blackburn Rovers tipped to avoid fresh Birmingham City transfer action | OneFootball

Blackburn Rovers journalist Elliott Jackson has revealed what Taylor Gardner-Hickman’s future holds this summer.

Blackburn Rovers remain embroiled in uncertainty as they battle to save their Championship skins.

The Lancashire outfit looked to have drawn away from the relegation pack after an instant response to Michael O’Neill taking over from Valerien Ismael, as Rovers secured back-to-back victories over Queens Park Rangers and Preston North End.

But since then, Blackburn have won just one out of their last six league outings, while resurgences from the likes of Oxford United and West Brom has seen them fall back towards the League One trapdoor with seven games remaining of the campaign.

Blackburn currently sit 19th in the Championship standings on 43 points from 39 games, travelling to face Birmingham City on Good Friday before a mammoth home clash against West Brom on Easter Monday.

Their latest opponents, in Blues, looked to be resigned to an uninspiring finish to this season’s Championship campaign, as a 1-0 defeat away at Derby County before the international break put a huge dent in their play-off hopes.

One player who has been featuring for Blackburn on loan from Birmingham this season has been midfielder Taylor Gardner-Hickman, who will be hopeful of contributing to Rovers retaining their second tier status for next season.

The midfielder has featured 26 times in all competitions this term at Ewood Park, and after dropping out of the team in the early stages of this year, has managed to win his place back, starting his last four straight league games in the heart of midfield.

Meanwhile, many supporters connected to both Blackburn and Birmingham will be eager to find out whether Lancashire will be a long-term home for Gardner-Hickman, or if he will be returning to the West Midlands at the beginning of next season.

And Blackburn journalist for the Lancashire Telegraph, Elliott Jackson, has revealed what Rovers’ position is on a deal, as reported by Birmingham Live.

Taylor Gardner-Hickman expected to return to Birmingham City next season

As per a report from Birmingham Live, Blackburn Rovers reporter Elliott Jackson, who works for the Lancashire Telegraph, has opened up about what Taylor Gardner-Hickman’s future looks like beyond this season.

And he revealed that Blackburn are unlikely to pursue a permanent deal, meaning the midfielder is set to return to St Andrew’s for the beginning of the 2026-27 campaign.

Asked if Blackburn would look at a permanent move for Gardner-Hickman, Jackson replied: “My gut feeling is probably not.

“They don't know who the head coach will be, albeit the smart money is on O'Neill if he keeps them up.

“Whilst I think he's a good egg and a useful squad player, I'm not sure he moves the needle enough for a club that needs to improve their team drastically.

“You could make an argument to keep him, dependent on the finances, but it's not one I'd break my neck to do.”

Taylor Gardner-Hickman could be on the move again this summer after Blackburn Rovers update

If Blackburn Rovers decide against moving for Taylor Gardner-Hickman again this summer, then you do feel the midfielder will be eager to bring his Birmingham City stay to an end after being made surplus to requirements under Chris Davies.

Despite playing the majority of Blues’ title-winning season in League One, the 24-year-old wasn’t deemed good enough to represent the promotion-chasing club in the second tier, instead moving to a side scrapping towards the bottom end of the table.

And with Blues looking to improve on what has been an underwhelming campaign, you find it difficult to see the midfielder breaking back into Davies’ plans any time soon.

With no future at the club, it may well be worth Birmingham parting ways with the midfielder permanently and getting a fee that can go towards their spending this summer, with every penny vital to building a squad that can get them to the Premier League as quickly as possible.

Although things can change quickly in football, the uncertainty at Blackburn and the disinterest from Birmingham means Gardner-Hickman could well be on the move again this summer, and is set to be searching for a fourth club in two years since departing boyhood outfit West Brom.