Blackburn need to step up interest in prolific Bundesliga striker

Back-to-back Premier League defeats have made Blackburn leading contenders for Premier League relegation this season, but signing Papiss Demba Cisse could help ease them towards survival.

The lack of a regular goalscorer was perhaps Blackburn’s biggest problem last season as they survived on the final day with a win at Wolves.

Morten Gamst Pedersen and Nikola Kalinic were their top scorers with only four Premier League strikes each and the latter of these has already left the club this summer.

David Goodwillie has arrived from Motherwell, but it remains to be seen if he is the answer to their goals crisis.

However, Cisse could prove a better solution, based on the improvement he showed at Freiburg last season.

The Senegalese striker netted 22 goals in 34 appearances last season and has already started the current campaign with flying colours, with four goals in Freiburg’s opening three fixtures.

However, Cisse has stated that he would have no problem in leaving Germany to further his career.

He told local broadcaster SWR: “I want to leave. Yes I have a contract but I really want to try planning at a different level.”

The one sticking point for Blackburn could be matching Freiburg’s asking price of £12.5m, but with Blackburn desperately needing a striker, it may be a risk that they are forced into taking.

It is also unlikely that they will get Cisse at a cheaper price, with Sunderland, Fulham and Tottenham all also thought to be interested in the 26-year-old.

Blackburn’s odds are currently 5/4 to be relegated this season and they will be hoping to collect their first points of the campaign next when they host Everton.

It is 13/8 that Blackburn beat Everton at Ewood Park for the second straight season and 9/4 that the game ends a draw.