With Rovers heading into the 2020-21 Championship season without first-team goalkeepers, following the return of loanee Christian Walton back to Brighton and Hove Albion, and the release of second-choice ‘keeper Jayson Leutwiler, Tony Mowbray’s side have been left without a notable fixture between the sticks for the first-time under the 56-year old’s stewardship. Whilst goalkeepers have always been a precarious area for Mowbray, following the departures of Jason Steele and David Raya in recent seasons, the gaffer has gone on record stating that his side need to ‘evolve’ if they have any chance of competing at the top end of the Championship when league football resumes on 12th September.
Given that UEFA gave the green-light for the transfer window to open on Monday 27th July following the change of the footballing calendar after the COVID-19 pandemic impacted 2019-20, clubs across Europe will be precariously battling each other to secure the best deals in the current unpredictable financial climate. With Rovers in the midst of organising pre-season and learning of their new budgets for the new campaign, following the announcement of the retained list that saw the aforementioned Leutwiler released alongside Danny Graham, Richie Smallwood, Dominic Samuel, Sam Hart whilst it was noted that negotiations with Stewart Downing were ongoing, Mowbray will need to tread carefully in order to fill the biggest gap on Rovers’ team sheet.
Although Rovers do have the trio of Andrew Fisher, Joe Hilton and Jordan Eastham on their books, Mowbray has made it clear that he’s looking to acquire a more established and experienced number one. Whilst we’d all like to bring in big money moves that would propel us up the division, it is important to take the financial situation of the world into context. With that in mind, the following piece will feature six goalkeepers who could realistically make the switch to Ewood Park for either minimal transfer fees or for nothing.
The first target is one who has had plenty of experience in the lower divisions, in David Cornell. The 29-year old goalie, who played a vital role in Northampton Town’s run towards achieving a League Two playoff spot prior to Leagues One and Two’s curtailment, has been reportedly targeted by Mowbray in recent windows, as well as a number of other clubs, both in the Championship and in League One.
Despite being released by the Cobblers after they won the League Two playoffs at Wembley, the former Wales under-21 international featured in 34 of 37 league games that Keith Curle’s side played in throughout the regular season. Through featuring, Cornell managed to prove his worth to the eventual playoff winners by keeping the second-highest number of clean sheets in the league at 13, which was only one behind Plymouth Argyle’s Alex Palmer, who themselves managed automatic promotion in 3rd place. Although Cornell did not feature throughout the playoffs following the season’s resumption, as Keith Curle preferred former Shrewsbury Town goalie Steve Arnold ahead of the former Swansea City trainee, Cornell more than proved his quality as Northampton conceded the joint fourth lowest goals throughout the whole division. Whilst some fans might be sceptical of whether Cornell is capable of making the jump into the second tier, with him predominantly plying his trade in divisions three and four throughout his career, this deal would come with little risk, given Rovers’ desperation for shot-stoppers and Cornell’s availability on a free transfer.
The second ‘keeper on the list is another who has mainly seen his career take shape in the lower tiers of professional football, in former Watford, Reading and Peterborough United goalkeeper, Jonathan Bond.
The 27-year old whose release from West Bromwich Albion has all but been confirmed, following their promotion to the Premier League has spent his spell at the Baggies playing second-in-command to former Manchester United ‘keeper Sam Johnstone and will be looking for a more permanent home once his departure is officialised. Whilst Sky Sports have reported that the likes of Rovers, Bristol City and Swansea City are tracking the once-highly tracked goalie, Bond would benefit from Rovers the most, given the ‘dangling carrot’ of first-team football that Tony Mowbray could offer. Given that Bond has spent most of his career – bar his loan spell at Peterborough United in 2017-18 – as the understudy to another ‘keeper, a fresh start as first-choice could be exactly what he needs in order to edge closer to realising the potential that was pinned on him as a youth prospect.
Unlike Cornell, Bond does have the Championship experience that Rovers and their fans would be craving, yet that comes with the knowledge that Bond has never completed a full league campaign at any level, something that loanee Christian Walton managed for Rovers this season. Whilst any signing obviously has its own pros and cons, Bond would arrive at any club packed full of knowledge and experience, having trained with a host former Premier League and Championship shot-stoppers, like Johnstone, Ali Al-Habsi and Manuel Almunia, among others.
Although Bond would arrive at his new club relatively rusty, given the world situation and the fact his last competitive game was during Albion’s 3-2 home defeat in the FA Cup 5th Round to Newcastle United back in early March, his potential addition, like that of Cornell would be incredibly low risk and probably worth it, if Rovers could fight off competition from elsewhere.
The third goalie to be considered, is a household name when it comes to the Championship, having earned promotion from it on three different occasions. 33-year old John Ruddy would be an ideal target as he would help add much-needed experience and solidity in order to mould Rovers’ defence into one of the meanest in the division.
The one-cap wonder who kept a clean sheet in his solidary England appearance, replaced Jack Butland during the half-time break between the Three Lions’ friendly with Italy in 2012, as England emerged 2-1 victors, with Italy’s goal through Daniele De Rossi coming whilst Butland was between the posts. Ruddy, who won the Championship’s Golden Glove award during Wolves’ 2017-18 title-winning season, has seen his opportunities at Molineux reduced to sporadic cup and Europa League games following the Midlands club’s acquisition of Portugal’s Euro 2016 winner Rui Patrício and his spell on the bench could potentially see him push for a move to gain more first-team football.
Although Wolves boss Nuno Espírito Santo highlighted during the 2018-19 season that Ruddy would not be allowed to leave Molineux for cover reasons, the 33-year old’s second successive season at playing second fiddle could see him potentially force a move in a bid to secure more first-team football during the twilight of his career.
Ruddy himself, needs no introduction to any set of fans given his fantastic record in the second tier of English football. His record in the Championship was seen in 2017-18 for Wolves where he added to his Golden Glove with places in the Championship’s Team of the Season and the PFA Team of the Year which further emphasises the quality Ruddy possesses at this level. Alongside his achievements at Wolves, Norwich City provided Ruddy with a platform earlier on in his career to show his worth, prior to his England cap as he impressed widely during the Canaries’ disappointing 2013-14 Premier League campaign, where, despite keeping 12 clean sheets from 38 games, Ruddy couldn’t prevent Norwich’s relegation after three years amongst the elite in English football. In terms of pure stats, in his three promotion years from the Championship, Ruddy played a total of 139 games and kept an impressive 50 clean sheets which shows that Ruddy is an incredibly safe pair of hands in such an unpredictable league.
Although Rovers would probably be able to afford Ruddy’s wages given the funds they would have saved from those released, the main stumbling block would be between both clubs agreeing to a deal that would suit both parties.
The fourth candidate to be considered is another ‘keeper with promotion experience and even a Champions League medal to his name, in Scott Carson.
The 34-year old returns to Derby County after spending the 2019-20 season on loan at Premier League runners-up Manchester City, out of favour with Rams boss Phillip Cocu, as the manager preferred fellow Dutchman Kelle Roos and on-loan Ben Hamer ahead of Carson. Whilst the 34-year old moves into the final year of his contract with the Rams, reports have linked Derby with a move for recently-relegated ‘keeper Dillon Phillips from Charlton Athletic. If that move was to materialise, it would move Carson further down the pecking order at Pride Park, which could open up the opportunity for Carson to move for a cut-price deal.
Tony Mowbray, who relied on Carson to be his first-choice ‘keeper during West Bromwich Albion’s 2008-09 Premier League campaign which ultimately ended in relegation, might be keen to return to a familiar face to solve his shot-stopping issues at Ewood Park. Carson himself, like the aforementioned Ruddy, holds an equally impressive clean sheet record in the second tier with 86 from 260 games to his names, spanning across four different clubs. Carson’s only promotion from the division came in 2009-10, the year after his relegation alongside Mowbray, as Albion finished second in the Championship, behind Newcastle United, under the stewardship of Roberto Di Matteo.
Whilst Manchester City have been rumoured to want to keep the goalkeeper as a backup option to aid with European home-grown quotas as well as tutoring for younger goalies, Carson himself could potentially see a reunion with Tony Mowbray, coupled with guaranteed first-team football too good to turn down, if Rovers were to make a move. If a deal was to materialise, Rovers would be acquiring a top goalkeeper for the division, who has both, international experience with England and continental experience, both from his time with Liverpool and from his spell in Turkey with Bursaspor, where he competed in the Europa League.
If Rovers were keen on sealing Carson, they might bizarrely face competition from Manchester City for Carson’s services. If Pep Guardiola’s side cool their interest and Derby add to their goalkeeping department, then Rovers could potentially find themselves in a similar situation to how Bradley Johnson’s move to Ewood Park materialised, where Derby terminated the midfielder’s deal early to allow him to move on.
The fifth name Rovers should consider moving for is another one-time promotion winner in Wigan Athletic ‘keeper David Marshall.
Despite the 35-year old only moving to the DW Stadium last summer, the Glaswegian could potentially be one of several departures from Wigan Athletic, following their fall into administration and League One after the 2019-20 Championship season’s conclusion.
Although Wigan’s fate will be decided come 31st July, if things do not go their way, it could potentially open the door for Marshall to leave the 2013 FA Cup winners at a bargain price in order to aid with their financial recovery. Although Marshall would undoubtedly attract attention from clubs back in his native Scotland, if he was to consider departing, Rovers’ location would be an attractive lure for the 35-year old, as a potential switch to Rovers would require little change in his personal life, given the close proximity between Blackburn and Wigan.
The Scotland international, who has notched 33 caps for his country, enjoyed a fine 2019-20 campaign as he kept 15 clean sheets in the 39 games he played for the Latics, to help Paul Cook’s side to finish 13th, despite their off-field issues condemning them to the drop. Further to the season just gone, Marshall boasts a fine Championship clean sheets record with 124 shutouts in his 405 games, whilst his two seasons in the Premier League with Cardiff City and Hull City respectively, saw him gain plaudits for some fine performances despite being consigned to relegation in both seasons.
Although there is every chance that Wigan could still end up in the Championship, if they are successful in their appeal, Rovers should not discount a move for the 35-year old who holds experience in first and second tiers of English football as well as the Champions League during his Celtic days. Whilst some may assume that Marshall might command a large fee due to him still being under contract, if interested Tony Mowbray should take advantage of Wigan Athletic’s financial fragility to try and secure Rovers a reliable option for at least the 2020-21 season, at a lower than first thought price.
The final, and most ambitious of the six ‘keepers is the most reputable and controversial of the lot, given that his latest club was Rovers’ East Lancashire rivals, Burnley. Although some might shake their heads at this choice, Joe Hart seems like the perfect candidate, given his known quality and experience. Additionally, if he’s willing to make the switch across East Lancashire, Hart could potentially kickstart his career at Ewood Park, if he’s willing to sacrifice the financial side of the game.
The joint record four-time Premier League Golden Glove winner finds himself without a club following a torrid couple of seasons which saw him loaned out to Serie A side Torino and Premier League side West Ham United before signing for Burnley permanently in the summer of 2018. Whilst some supporters may disapprove of Hart’s links to the other side of East Lancashire, the Premier League winner certainly has the required pedigree to suit any Premier League or Championship side.
Whilst any move for Joe Hart has been automatically ruled out by supporters due to his seemingly overbearing wage demands, given the financial situation of the world and Hart’s jittery form over the past couple of seasons, the goalkeeper and his agent are surely aware that their financial demands are in need of altering before the 33-year old can return to competitive action.
Hart boasts an impressive CV with a host of team and individual honours, alongside the aforementioned Premier League Golden Gloves awards. His 127 Premier League clean sheets alongside his inclusion in the 2009-10 and 2011-12 PFA Teams of the Year for the Premier League are notable individual accolades alongside his two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and two League Cups.
Alongside his trophies and awards, his continental and international experience which includes 75 England caps and trips to four major tournaments speaks volumes of the quality the goalkeeper possesses. Although his confidence may have taken a hit following the arrival of Pep Guardiola to Manchester City, Hart remains one of the most successful goalkeepers in Premier League history, which is surely enough for somebody to take a gamble on?
Although Tony Mowbray ruled out a move for the Shrewsbury-born ‘keeper in May 2019, the fact that Hart is now a free agent in a world dealing with an economic crisis, could see the player and his representatives potentially drop their financial demands drastically in the hope that a club will take a gamble on a ‘keeper trying to rebuild his reputation and career following a rocky couple of years.
As with Marshall, a move to Rovers would be ideal given Hart’s previous location, although the greatest obstacle with this kind of transfer is probably more the supporters than the finances, given Hart’s last club. Taking that factor out of the equation, Hart in the right headspace, on the right money and in the right team along with a little tender love and care could see him rebuild his career and offer Rovers a solid foundation, even on a short-term basis, towards challenging for a top six spot in 2020-21.
