Blackburn Rovers have reportedly stepped up their interest in Sunderland defender Danny Batth
Blackburn Rovers have reportedly made an official approach to Sunderland for centre-back Danny Batth. The defender is in the final year of his contract on Wearside and, with no new deal offered by the club, he has been linked with a move this summer with Blackburn leading the chase.
But if the latest report is correct and Rovers have now formalised their interest in the 32-year-old, that marks a step-change in the situation. Batth, 32, is one of three experienced players at Sunderland who could be on the move in the current transfer window, with Alex Pritchard and Lynden Gooch the others seemingly nearing the exit.
All three are in the final 12 months of their contracts and, while ultimately the decision on who stays and who goes lies with sporting director Kristjaan Speakman, it is notable that boss Tony Mowbray has not ruled out talk of moves for the trio. In fact, where Pritchard is concerned, he said last week that there is a ‘fair percentage’ chance that the midfielder will move on.
And when asked about Batth – who was Sunderland’s player of the season last term when the club finished sixth in the Championship and reached the play-offs – he said earlier in the summer that it was effectively up to the player to decide whether to stay and fight for his place, or to move on in search of regular first-team football. Mowbray said earlier this month: “I think my own view is about the individuals, the players.
“If there’s an understanding that the players are going to leave – either want to leave or feel as though they’re not required – then I think my first thought is always about the human being and their families, and what’s right for them. Particularly as you start to tiptoe into your 30s, you need to have contractual situations that are right for the human being.
