Blackburn Rovers‘ attempt to sign Siver Mannsverk may have taken a major dent as a Championship rival have entered the race.
Valerien Ismael’s side are looking for new options in midfield alongside new signing Sidnei Tavares, with Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph reporting that Ajax are willing to let the 23-year-old leave. Dutch outlet vi.nl had previously reported earlier this month that the Ewood Park side were looking to strike a deal to sign the former Cardiff City loanee.
Rivals Enter Talks
According to Football Insider and their transfer correspondent Pete O’Rourke, Wrexham are now engaging in talks with Ajax for Mannsverk, with Phil Parkinson’s side willing to pay out up to £4 million to sign the Norwegian midfielder. It would be the latest in Wrexham’s heavy investment since promotion into the Championship, with the Welsh side expected to smash their transfer record for Empoli’s Liberato Cacace, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.
The Red Dragons have signed just two players so far this window in Plymouth Argyle‘s Ryan Hardie and goalkeeper Danny Ward following his exit from Leicester City. Indeed, Mannsverk is not the only midfielder that Wrexham are actively pursuing, with The Bolton News reporting that the Racecourse Ground club are lining up a seven-figure bid for Bolton Wanderers‘ George Thomason.
Mannsverk has been handed few opportunities at Ajax since arriving in 2023 and was loaned out to Cardiff for the second half of last season. He could not stop the Bluebirds from suffering relegation, but he made 15 appearances and just one assist against Blackburn.
Writers’ View
Blackburn Rovers have a real battle on their hands to sign Sivert Mannsverk this window. The Lancashire side will not be able to compete with the multi-million transfer war chest Wrexham have at their disposal, and should Football Insider’s report be believed, they are willing to throw £4 million at Ajax to secure their signing. Whilst they have got one player in midfield through the door in Sidnei Tavares, it will be the second setback for a second signing in the position that Rovers have faced this window, after the move for Yverdon Sports’ Moussa Baradji collapsed in its final stages last week.
