Makhtar Gueye situation at Blackburn Rovers expected to intensify in January - "I fully expect" one outcome | OneFootball

FLW's Blackburn Fan Pundit Simon has explained he expects Makhtar Gueye to leave Blackburn Rovers in the January transfer window.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

As the jam-packed festive period comes ever closer, EFL clubs will be finalising their plans for the January transfer window, with the market often make or break for many clubs’ season aspirations.

Having missed out on the top six and the play-off places in the Championship on the final day of last season, many expected Blackburn Rovers would now finally majorly regress and form part of the relegation battle in the second-tier for the vast majority of the campaign.

This winter transfer window could be a busy and important one for Valerien Ismael and the club as they continue to try and back the former West Bromwich Albion boss with what he wants.

One thing that does appear to be an inevitability, though, is the departure of striker Makhtar Gueye from Ewood Park, whether it be on loan or permanently.

Makhtar Gueye expected to leave Blackburn Rovers

Having joined in the summer of 2024 when Blackburn were coached by John Eustace, Makhtar Gueye became a key part of the side under Eustace before falling out of favour following the appointment of Ismael in the spring of last season.

The former Racing White Daring Molenbeek attacker was the reported subject of interest from the United Arab Emirates towards the end of last summer and there is an expectation that he will leave Blackburn this winter, as explained by FLW’s Blackburn Fan Pundit Simon Middlehurst.

Simon says: “Fully expect Makhtar Gueye to leave in January. Obviously, he was a big character last year and played a lot last season.

“However, this year, he doesn’t seem to be a part of Valerien Ismael’s plans. He has literally been playing 15 or 20 minutes, at most, a game, and sometimes not even coming on at all.

“Now, obviously, with Andri Gudjohnsen finding form and scoring goals and Yuki Ohashi putting in the performances he has been, his game time has been extremely limited.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if he leaves in January, either on loan or on a permanent move away.”

Makhtar Gueye has struggled under Valerien Ismael

Makhtar Gueye moved to England last year for a fee believed to be in the region of £1 million from RWDM, and he scored six goals in 44 second-tier appearances last season.

While not prolific, Gueye did put in some reasonable performances for Rovers under the management of Eustace, as they sat tucked inside the play-off places before his premature departure to Derby County.

Despite seemingly being of the profile to play well in Ismael’s direct style of football, especially as a part of the front three in a fairly flat 3-4-3 system, given his physicality and strength, Gueye was overlooked by Ismael from the start of his reign.

Ismael hasn’t stuck to that identical system this year, albeit he has returned to a 3-4-2-1 shape as the season has gone on, with Gueye way down the pecking order, behind the likes of Gudjohnsen and Ohashi.

Having already been linked with a move away and seemingly well out of favour under Ismael, it does appear very likely that Gueye will depart Blackburn soon.