Blackburn Rovers have displayed an interest in Motherwell striker Theo Bair according to a report by HITC and the Canadian could become their main source of goals next season if he was to complete a move.
Having scored 15 goals in the Scottish Premiership this season as well as supplying a further six assists for an underperforming Motherwell side, there is plenty to like about the 24-year-old. As a result of his displays in front of goal, he’d finish as the club’s top scorer as well as finishing sixth in the Golden Boot race.
Gaining plenty of admirers after some fine form this season, Bair may have earned himself a summer move and there are a number of sides currently monitoring the 24-year-old’s situation. One of those being Blackburn Rovers, who are highly likely to be in the market for a goalscorer when the transfer window opens.
Despite scoring 60 times in 46 matches, the most in the bottom nine, Rovers where heavily reliant on one individual. That being Sammie Szmodics. The 28-year-old would have his strongest season to date, notching a superb 27 goals in England’s second tier which was enough to earn him the Championship Golden Boot.
Due to those performances in front of goal, Szmodics has been touted with a Premier League move this coming window which isn’t exactly surprising given the numbers he put up for a struggling Blackburn squad. The problem for Rovers is that if they were to lose their star man, they don’t have too many other goalscorers within their ranks, with not a single other player hitting double figures in the second tier this term.
Therefore, they’ll almost certainly require a new primary source of goals if the attacking midfielder was to leave this summer. Although he has a different play style, Bair could be that man to take up the goalscoring responsibilities at the club.
It’s not only John Eustace’s side who have displayed an interest in the striker, with Sunderland, Cardiff City and German side FC St. Pauli all cited in the report to be watching the Canadian closely.
Although St. Pauli are stated to currently be leading the race, Blackburn are by no means out of it and may wish to pursue the striker this summer. Expect the club to bring in more than one goalscorer in the forthcoming transfer window as they look to improve upon their 19th place finish next term.
Writer’s View
Although it is by no means a like-for-like replacement, Bair could be the primary source of goals for Blackburn if Szmodics was to leave this summer. They’ll no doubt have to battle for his signature but it seems a worthwhile one given his form for Motherwell.
It would be considered a step-up for the Canadian but one which he can be expected to take in his stride as he continues to grow and develop in the senior game. This season with Motherwell has been by far his best to date and the best could still be yet to come.
If Blackburn want to seriously improve next season, then they need to find more sources of goals. Bringing in the right players in the forward areas could be the difference between a play-off push and mid-table obscurity.