Blackburn Rovers manager Valérien Ismaël has launched a scathing verdict on departing captain Lewis Travis as his move to Derby County edges closer.
The 27-year-old midfielder is set to complete a transfer worth more than £3 million, ending a decade-long association with Rovers in acrimonious fashion.
Captain Set for Derby Move
Travis has been absent from the main squad in recent weeks, training away from his team-mates while negotiations with Derby continued. The agreement, finalised last week, will bring down the curtain on a career at Ewood Park that began in 2013 when he joined from Liverpool’s academy.
Speaking after Rovers’ victory over Hull City at the weekend, Ismaël made his frustrations clear over the way his skipper has handled the situation.
“After Lewis Travis let down everyone in the last couple of weeks, we needed to adjust to manage the situation,” Ismaël said. “There’s some negotiation ongoing and we will see what the next week will bring.”
Travis leaves having made more than 200 appearances for the club and captaining them in recent seasons. However, his exit marks an abrupt end to his leadership at Ewood Park, with the player opting to pursue a new challenge at Pride Park.
Transfer Business Continues
Despite the distraction, Ismaël remains focused on strengthening his squad before the transfer window closes. He confirmed that further signings are expected to balance the departures, with attacking reinforcements high on the list of priorities.
“I’m expecting incomings and outgoings, it will be both ways. We say if someone is leaving, we want to replace. We know that in an attacking line, we need to do something,” he explained.
Rovers have already bolstered their midfield options by capturing Moussa Baradji, a long-term target who arrived from France on Friday. Ismaël was full of praise for the 22-year-old, hailing his decision to reject rival clubs to sign for Blackburn.
“Moussa is a very talented player. He had a lot of offers from big clubs and he made the decision to come to us. He is strong, very good on the ball, able to score goals and gives us more flexibility in our shape,” the manager said.
Baradji will now compete for a starting berth in central midfield, where Travis’ absence creates both a void and an opportunity for others to step forward.
Writer’s View
Blackburn’s summer has been turbulent, and the departure of a captain in such circumstances is always damaging. While Travis’ leadership will be missed, the club’s swift move for Baradji underlines a determination to rebuild quickly. The focus now is on ensuring Rovers do not lose momentum in the opening weeks of the campaign, with new arrivals expected to define how competitive Ismaël’s side can be in the Championship this season.
