Middlesbrough, Preston and Blackburn all sent scouts to watch 28-year-old Barnsley striker Davis Keillor-Dunn, who has 14 goals for the Tykes this season, in action against Liverpool on Monday night. (Pete O'Rourke, external)
Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.
Andy Bayes
Sports editor, BBC Radio Lancashire
Image source, Getty ImagesThe domestic cups for Blackburn Rovers in 2025-26 have both been short-lived experiences.
They exited the EFL Cup in August with a much-changed team, and the same thing happened in the FA Cup at Hull on Sunday.
The 6,627 in attendance will have found the game at the MKM a tough watch. A cold, wet and windy January afternoon saw the two sides muster three shots on target between them in two hours of football.
It was one of those occasions where that old phrase, 'If they were still playing now, nobody would have scored,' would be a pretty accurate assessment.
Rovers made eight changes to the team that fought back to draw with Charlton a week earlier. Four made full debuts, with another from the bench tasting senior action for the first time.
Of the 17 players who set foot on the pitch at Hull, six of them are academy graduates or, in some cases, are still academy players. Two more were unused substitutes.
In a challenging season for a variety of reasons, this has to be seen as a real positive. Yes, the majority have been thrown in due to necessity more than choice, but it can only help each and every one of them in their careers going forward.
The big takeaway from the match is that it's abundantly clear where the squad issues lie. It's been clear for a while.
Since Andri Gudjohnsen went out of the team through injury, Rovers haven't scored in four of the last five games.
With a head coach wedded to a 3-5-2 formation, it's a massive problem that the squad boasts one senior striker.
Ismael is clear that he wants two more front men this month. It sounds straightforward in theory, but the reality is anything but. This is the stage of the season where the premium for someone who can find the net grows out of all proportion.
Decisions have been made to part with Makhtar Gueye and homegrown striker Harry Leonard already this season. Gueye, you can fully understand moving on, but Leonard's form and injury-free record for Peterborough this season is making some wonder why he wasn't given a bigger chance to prove his worth.
The left wing-back position is also an area of concern.
Ryan Hedges has proved to be the most natural and consistent fit, but surgery this week will confirm whether or not his season comes to a premature end. It remains to be seen if he's given a new contract; if he isn't, he could well have played his final game for the club.
The midfield area is a bit of a head scratcher. If Sondre Tronstad, Todd Cantwell, Ryoya Morishita and Moussa Baradji all stay relatively injury-free, they'll be ok. But you can't guarantee that.
All four have already had layoffs this season, as have Sidnei Tavares, Adam Forshaw and Kristi Montgomery.
But the goalkeeping and defensive areas in general are now looking sound. Four clean sheets in the last six games suggest as much. And, if all goes according to plan, Ryan Alebiosu, Hayden Carter and Scott Wharton will be back sooner rather than later to further strengthen those areas.
Ismael couldn't be more clear that he needs new blood; one win in eleven backs that up pretty firmly. All eyes are on what can be done between now and 19:00 GMT on 2 February.
Image source, ShutterstockValerien Ismael's Blackburn have now won only one of their last 11 games in all competitions
Head coach Valerien Ismael praised Blackburn Rovers for their efforts despite going out of the FA Cup on penalties to Hull City.
The game finished goalless after extra time before Yuki Ohashi and Moussa Baradji had spot-kicks saved in the shoot-out as the Tigers progressed.
Rovers had made eight changes to their starting line-up, including two debutants and two others making their first start.
And it was in those circumstances that meant Ismael was pleased with how they coped.
"We made a brilliant performance when you see that we were without 12 players today - 10 injured players and two we left at home, Sondre [Tronstad] and Toddy [Cantwell]," the Frenchman told BBC Radio Lancashire.
"Academy players made their debut and it was interesting to see that.
"Hull played a strong team. We didn't see any difference. We were really good in our press, our intensity.
"We played really well but we didn't create the big, big chances. But I'm really proud of the boys and what they did today. It was a great away performance and at the end, it is just a lottery."
Pundits Dion Dublin and Phil Jones join host Kelly Somers to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's FA Cup ties.
And listen back to selected full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:
There are eight third-round ties in the FA Cup on Sunday - as Premier League and Championship teams enter the competition - and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.
Derby v Leeds (12:00) - BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Derby & BBC Radio Leeds
Portsmouth v Arsenal (14:00) - BBC Radio 5 Live & BBC Radio Solent
Hull v Blackburn (14:30) - BBC Radio Humberside & BBC Radio Lancashire
Norwich v Walsall (14:30) - BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2, BBC Radio Norfolk & BBC Radio WM
Sheff Utd v Mansfield (14:30) - BBC Radio Sheffield & BBC Radio Nottingham
Swansea v West Brom (14:30)
West Ham v QPR (14:30) - BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Radio London
Man Utd v Brighton (16:30) - BBC Radio Manchester and BBC Radio Sussex
Kick-off times GMT
Follow all of the action and reaction here
And find out how to follow the FA Cup across the BBC this weekend here
You can also listen to today's 5 Live commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Derby County v Leeds United" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Portsmouth v Arsenal", for instance.
Find out more about how to listen to football on BBC Sounds
'To see the videos [of Eiran Cashin], to see him playing... and to speak to him, convinced us he was the right player for us'
Blackburn Rovers boss Valerien Ismael has said new winter signing Eiran Cashin "ticked all the boxes" as the club looks to bolster their injury-hit squad.
Cashin joined Rovers on loan until the end of the season from Brighton on Tuesday to help cover in defence, with fellow defenders Hayden Carter, Matty Litherland and Scott Wharton out on the sidelines, leaving the squad low on central defensive options.
"The profile was clear that we wanted a left-footed centre-back with some experience, a player that already played in that shape and then his name came on the table," Ismael told BBC Radio Lancashire.
"To speak with him convinced us he was the right player for us. It will bring some experience, some leadership - it will be good for the team - and for sure some quality on the build-up.
"We need players who are ready to help us straight away and not wait two or three weeks to get ready. A player with some ambition to prove that they are good - he ticked all the boxes of what we expected."
Ismael has also confirmed that goalkeeper Balazs Toth could make his first start since October in the side's trip to Hull City in the FA Cup on Sunday (14:30 GMT) as he recovers from his knee injury.
Forward Andri Gudjohnsen and midfielders Ryoya Morishita and Adam Forshaw are back on the grass but will not return to the squad for a couple of weeks, while Carter is also training with the team but will need to be assessed before he makes his comeback.
Winger Ryan Hedges is due for surgery on his ankle injury on Monday but does not yet have a timeline for his return.
Listen to the full interview and more Blackburn Rovers content on BBC Sounds.
Image source, Getty ImagesRyan Alebiosu won his first cap for Nigeria in their group stage game against Uganda
Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Alebiosu's injury kept him out of Nigeria's last-16 win at the Africa Cup of Nations and could sideline him for the remainder of the tournament.
The 24-year-old made his senior international debut for the Super Eagles in their opening 3-1 victory over Uganda but suffered a deep cut to his right leg which kept him on the bench for the subsequent group wins over Tunisia and Tanzania.
Nigeria beat Mozambique 4-0 in Fes on Monday night to reach the quarter-finals but Alebiosu was not part of the squad.
The Super Eagles will now play either Algeria or DR Congo in the last eight on Saturday (16:00 GMT).
Blackburn Rovers are interested in a loan deal for Brighton's former Republic of Ireland Under-21 defender Eiran Cashin, with the 24-year-old only making 11 Championship appearances during his current loan spell with Birmingham City this season. (Alan Nixon - subscription required), external
Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip column here.
Ismael: 'We are always strong in the second half'
Blackburn Rovers boss Valerian Ismael spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire after his side's 2-2 draw with Charlton Athletic.
On Moussa Baradji: "We knew that we've got a special player with him, [that's] why we took the risk with him in the summer because we knew that he's worth it.
"I'm just pleased that he was able to, since he came back, have 100% ability in the training session and the game.
"So we built him up for the game [for] one month and he works well. You see clearly now he's going up and up.
"I'm pleased now he has time to recover properly, it will be good for him to have a breather to Ipswich in the next Championship game."
On status of winger Ryan Hedges' injury: "Yes it's a very serious injury. So he has a fracture from the fibula, so he will have surgery."
Blackburn boss Valerien Ismael reacts to the 2-0 defeat to Wrexham on New Year's Day
Blackburn have now won just one of their past nine Championship games (D5 L3) following the 2-0 home defeat to Wrexham on New Year's Day.
Rovers head coach Valerien Ismael told BBC Radio Lancashire: "It's another setback in terms of the result. I can't complain about the boys, they tried to go again, it was just a lack of energy today.
"We lost the game in the first half. We conceded the first goal, we can avoid it. The second goal is a great shot.
"We tried to find some energy for the second half and it was much better. We lost two players again today, and it's clear we've touched the limit with the squad."
Image source, OptaBlackburn will look to move further clear of the Championship relegation zone when they welcome a Wrexham side with the play-offs in their sights on New Year's Day (12:30 GMT kick-off).
Rovers are five points clear of the drop zone with a game in hand on 22nd-placed Oxford United and have lost just one of their past seven matches, albeit only one of those was a victory (D5).
Wrexham have won two on the bounce and are four points off the top six, with a chance to move within one point before other teams play later in the day on 1 January.
This will be the first time Blackburn are hosting Wrexham at Ewood Park in a league fixture since October 1981, a 0-0 draw under Bobby Saxton.
Wrexham have lost only one of their past 14 league meetings with Blackburn Rovers, though 10 of those have ended level (W3), including the reverse meeting this season in Wales (1-1).
Blackburn Rovers have only lost one of their past eight league games played on New Year's Day (W4 D3), drawing 1-1 last year at Elland Road against Leeds United, despite going 1-0 behind in the 88th minute.
Wrexham have failed to win any of their previous eight away games in the EFL played on New Year's Day (D2 L6), since a 2-0 win at Lincoln City in the fourth tier in 1966.
Wrexham's Josh Windass has scored four goals across his past four EFL appearances on New Year's Day, netting a double for Wigan v Birmingham in 2020 and for Sheffield Wednesday against Hull and Derby in 2024 and 2025 respectively.
Adam Cottier
BBC Radio 5 Live
Image source, ShutterstockBlackburn striker Makhtar Gueye has been criticised by boss Valerien Ismael
Back in May, Blackburn Rovers were a fraction away from finishing in the Championship play-off places.
Fast forward to the end of 2025 and they are running on empty, fractured by a long injury list and the residual effects of a baffling and chaotic summer transfer window. The year ended for them with a limp display away to Sheffield Wednesday.
Rovers are short of quality and the head coach appears to know it.
They lack enough attacking potency or enough players who have proved they are good enough at Championship level.
Rovers have some players who are consistently capable but not enough to make significant progress - so much of that appears to rest with botched recruitment and player sales.
The only positives from a grim night on the road at the division's bottom club were a third successive clean sheet and academy graduates Matthew Litherland and George Pratt once again giving accomplished displays.
But they stand out in a team without its top goalscorer Andri Gudjohnsen for several weeks, and one that does not feature striker Makhtar Gueye at all - fully fit but left out completely in favour of players making the bench who were unheard of until winter began.
Gueye does not run enough in training to warrant a place in the squad according to Rovers boss Valerien Ismael, who really did not hold back when asked about the Senegalese player.
It is rather damning for a player who, despite being limited in top level ability, has managed six league goals in his time at the club and is certainly more experienced than a teenage forward on Ismael's bench.
Then there is Axel Henriksson. He was signed on a four-year deal in the summer, but is struggling.
The midfielder was deployed as a striker again at Hillsborough and looked way off the pace, letting his team down in attacking situations on numerous occasions.
It provided another reason as to why Gueye's omission was in sharp focus in the post-match debrief with the head coach on BBC Radio Lancashire.
All that inevitably led to questions about what the club plans to do to rectify the matter of goalscoring and the abject performance against a makeshift and vulnerable Sheffield Wednesday.
Only two sides have scored fewer times than Rovers in the Championship at this halfway stage.
Regardless of how long Gudjohnsen is out for, they must find at least another forward to ease the burden.
That means either spending serious money or making smart moves in the loan market.
There have been occasions where Rovers have produced good performances this season - in their five away wins, in particular.
But you need a deeper squad in terms of quality to sustain it on a regular basis and, at least, avoid a messy relegation battle.
January is an important month for Blackburn Rovers, 15 years since the takeover by owners Venky's, who continue to bear the brunt of fan frustration.
Image source, Getty ImagesBlackburn are 19th in the Championship
Blackburn Rovers manager Valerien Ismael was left frustrated by his side's inability to convert any of their chances in a 0-0 draw at Sheffield Wednesday.
Despite dominating possession, Rovers were held to a second successive stalemate after holding Middlesbrough on Boxing Day.
Ismael was not happy with the way his side performed after a strong start.
"We started the game well, we created chances but the quality in the last pass [wasn't there]," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.
"After that we lost control because we were too sloppy, we let Wednesday back in the game.
"The only thing I can complain about is we are not hitting the target. We put ourselves in positions to create chances but it is something we must work on.
"We missed the goal to help us but on the other hand we take the positives; we are solid."
Ismael is taking the positives from a strong defensive performance but says the next game against Wrexham is crucial.
"It is three clean sheets in a row now. It is pressure on the next game against Wrexham; win it and it is a great run, lose and it is tough.
"We are focussed; we can be pleased with two clean sheets in away games but we should have scored."
