Middlesbrough may have been handed a slight blow in their interest in Blackburn Rovers‘ Callum Brittain following a new update.
The right-back’s future at Ewood Park looks set to be over after refusing to play in their pre-season friendly against Accrington Stanley last week amid interest from Boro and Derby County. A move to The Rams would see him reunite with former Rovers boss John Eustace, and make the 27-year-old the third former Blackburn player to join Derby this window.
Brittain Development Revealed
After his self-imposed omission from Blackburn’s last game, The Lancashire Telegraph have reported that Brittain has returned to training with Valerien Ismael’s side, with the former Watford boss not allowing him to miss a second pre-season game when they face Everton this weekend. The Frenchman had hinted of a return for the defender earlier this week, stating:
“At some point, everyone has to be happy,”
“At the moment, I think that’s just a question of time to come over the line.
“If we are not able to go over the line until the middle of the week, he will train and be back with us.”
It is believed that Middlesbrough are still weighing up an offer for Brittain but unless Rob Edwards’ side meet Rovers’ asking price, the former Barnsley man will be available to face the Premier League side. It is unclear what Derby’s latest stance is on pursuing the 27-year-old since their original interest.
Writers’ View
With Anfernee Dijksteel’s release from Middlesbrough, Rob Edwards is in need of a new right-back, and it seems their interest in Callum Brittain remains. However, this latest development with his return to training at Blackburn Rovers hints that there is a chance of reconciliation between the player and the club after going on strike during their last match. Boro now know the price they need to pay their Championship rivals to get their target, and it is up to them to match that fee. Whether the price discourages a move to the North East remains to be seen.
