Blackburn Rovers boss John Eustace has emphasised that he will be looking at signing multiple forward players this summer due to the majority of the squad’s lack of goals this season.
Despite scoring 60 goals in the second tier, the most in the bottom nine and second most in the bottom half of the table, it’s fair to say the club may have become overly-reliant on one player.
Championship top goalscorer Sammie Szmodics would net 27 times for Rovers this season in the second tier as well as providing a further four assists. As a result, he’d be directly involved in 52% of there goals in the league and is arguably the reason the club survived.
The Riversiders would end the season in 19th, with their survival only confirmed on the final day thanks to a 2-0 win over Leicester City. Obviously, it was Szmodics who scored both, keeping the club afloat, but they may encounter some problems entering next season.
It is highly likely that the 28-year-old leaves Blackburn this summer, and is being touted with a Premier League move. That could lead to Eustace suffering some headache as no one else in his current squad would score more than seven goals across all competitions this season.
It’s rather clear that the forward areas are a position in need of addressing and it comes as no surprise to see that high on Eustace’s priority list.
Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph, the manager emphasised the need for new forward options but also believed that this season’s experience will help his players.
“I think it is important to realise where we have let ourselves down this season. We have to refocus and get together in the next couple of weeks to build properly.
“I think we need to add to the group. We have one goal-scorer, nobody else from their numbers previous is there where they can score consistently.”
“What the group will learn from this experience is brilliant for them. They now understand what it really takes to stay in the league.
“You keep level-headed and the togetherness is key. Hopefully, one or two of this group will now step up and be the man that I have asked them to do. Without the ball, they are doing it. With the ball, we can improve.
“We have to improve next season, I am sure we will have a lot of these players here next season. We can’t wait to start working with them again.”
Writer’s View
With only one source of goals in the squad, who looks likely to depart this summer, it is obvious the position which Blackburn need to address this summer. Perhaps they were fortunate to survive this season, but if they get a good fee for Szmodics, then they can improve the wider squad.
To be that reliant on one player emphasises that they need change, and multiple new names in the attacking areas can be expected through the doors at Ewood Park this summer.
In Eustace they have a solid manager overseeing the overhaul, they now just have to recruit well if they want to be further up the Championship table next season.
