Exclusive: Blackburn’s Jake Batty Attracts Interest from Lincoln and Rotherham as Loan Move Looms

Blackburn Rovers are looking to find a loan club for promising talent Jake Batty, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal. 

And our sources have learnt that League One Lincoln City and Rotherham have both expressed an interest in recruiting the former England Under-17 international.

Batty (pictured right above) enjoyed a productive loan spell at League Two Accrington Stanley last season.

A versatile left-back and winger, Batty played 29 games for Stanley having jumped at the chance to get games under his belt in his journey to play first team football.

And the 20-year-old’s reward was being offered a new one-year deal at Ewood Park at the start of last month.

Rovers are now keen to get Batty more games as he continues his progress up the senior ranks, with the Imps and Millers both admirers of the player.

Batty is a product of Rovers’ academy system, the same one which produced England and Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton who, at just 21, is now playing at international and Premier League level.

But Batty has yet to make his Rovers’ debut and knows he has to get more first team experience to stand any chance of breaking into manager Valerien Ismael’s starting side.

However, the youngster is hungry to take the next step in his burgeoning career and would relish another loan move to try and catch the eye.

VALUABLE EXPERIENCE

Speaking last month after signing a new deal to continue his development with the Lancashire club, Batty told the club’s official website: “I had an alright year at Accrington and learnt a lot about men’s football. I think it has put me in a good way for this pre-season."

“It was everything that I needed really to get myself closer to Blackburn’s first team, fighting for points every week."

"We were down the bottom side of the table and every point meant everything to us."

"I felt like I learnt a lot about myself but also about the game, physically and mentally."

"You can’t have a lapse of concentration anywhere in the season or within the 90 minutes of a game because it can cost you points. I enjoyed getting myself out and the physical challenges."

“It has given me a massive confidence boost and it might be the thing that helps me push towards Blackburn’s first team or it might be another loan, who knows.”

AWARD WINNER

Batty played three games for England Under-17s and last season won Accrington’s Players’ Young Player of the Season award and the club’s Supporters’ Trust Young Player of the Season accolade.

"I just have to take each day as it is, be confident with all the lads here and show the gaffer that I am ready,” stressed Batty.

“[First team football] is always anyone’s goal to start with. The club you sign with is the club you want to see do well and you want to do well there, almost make yourself a bit of a name."

"But obviously if things aren’t quite there and I am not quite close enough to the first team, it could be a loan."

"It is just about pushing forward to give myself the best opportunity here at the club and, if I am not there, I will hold my hands up and say I have not done enough or I need to get a bit more experience."

"I think I have put myself in a decent way with the experience I got at Accrington.”