Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday transfer target Duncan McGuire has garnered interest from a club in one of Europe’s top-five leagues, according to the latest reports.
The 23-year-old was set to seal a transfer to Ewood Park at the eleventh hour on deadline day back in February and had even travelled across the Atlantic Ocean, making the lengthy trip to complete his transfer with the Lancashire outfit.
Blackburn Rovers Could Lose £1.7 Million-Rated Ace This Summer
There were rumblings that Danish club FC Midtjylland were also in the running for the United States international but it became clear that Blackburn Rovers were set to come out on top, having agreed a £3 million fee with Orlando City to sign the attacker back when Jon Dahl Tomasson was at the helm.
However, McGuire’s transfer to Blackburn inexplicably broke down in the dying embers of the transfer window after the club cited an “administrative error” with their paperwork. The American forward was forced to return overseas to Orlando and a deal was now off the table, whilst head coach Tomasson parted ways merely days after the incident occurred.
The Athletic released a report back in May claiming that Rovers had sent executives from the club over to scout McGuire once more in the hopes of reigniting the transfer saga this summer, although the player himself recently admitted that the Championship side would need to offer him a lot more money to return after the previous fiasco. It was also revealed earlier this year that Sheffield Wednesday would make an attempt to sign McGuire should they remain in England’s second tier, which they have achieved.
Nonetheless, reports in Italy have provided an update on the transfer saga, via Inside Futbol, claiming that Serie A side Torino are keen to sign McGuire this summer, while the Owls and Blackburn still retain an interest in the centre-forward.
Writer’s View
McGuire is a player that Blackburn Rovers had battled off competitors for throughout the January window as they looked to make a statement signing in an attempt to avoid relegation to League One. Unfortunately, the “administrative error” on deadline day may have completely burned the bridge between themselves and the player.
Additionally, if Torino’s reported interest in McGuire is serious, it will be incredibly difficult for Blackburn or Sheffield Wednesday come out on top for his signature as the Italian side will likely be able to offer him a lot more money than he would receive in the Championship.
Deputy Head of Writing