Exclusive: Blackburn tempted by free agent Premier League winner

Blackburn are considering a bold swoop for Premier League winner Daniel Amartey, SportsBoom sources can exclusively reveal.

Rovers’ boss Valerian Ismael is desperate to add a centre-back to his squad after Dominic Hyam’s move to fellow Championship club Wrexham. 

There is a shortage of senior options at the heart of defence at Ewood Park with Hayden Carter sidelined following knee surgery and Sean McLoughlin’s sending off before the international break. Scott Wharton has only just returned from surgery himself.

Former Wolverhampton Wanderers’ defender Craig Dawson remains on the club’s radar, but he is still considering his options with wage demands a stumbling block. 

Ghanaian international Amartey, 30, is a free agent and fits the bill with his experience and quality. 

Amartey has been a free agent since being released by Turkish club Besiktas last summer, after refusing a move to Saudi Arabia for personal reasons. 

And our sources understand the player is open to a return to England after a sustained spell of training on his own in the lead up to the new season. 

Speaking about his squad, Ismael said: “We need to find the right balance between improving the squad, what we think we have to do, and the other one to say, shall we do it now, force something, or maybe to wait, develop the team.”

Wealth of Experience 

Amartey signed for Leicester, in a £5million deal, midway through their famous title-winning campaign in 2015/16 and went on to make over 100 league appearances for the club.

He was one of seven players released in 2023 following the Foxes’ relegation to the Championship. 

During his career, the defender has won the Danish Superliga, Danish Cup (twice), Premier League, FA Cup, Community Shield and Turkish Cup.