Blackburn’s Junior Hoilett on Arsenal and Newcastle’s radar
Published:Blackburn Rovers may have drifted to 7/2 to be relegated following a good couple of weeks for the club – but they now face another battle to keep one of their most promising young players.
Winger Junior Hoilett has been instrumental in Rovers’ small but important ascent up the table, hitting the net three times in their last two games to give Steve Kean’s men consecutive league wins for the first time this season and extending their unbeaten run to three.
Unfortunately for Rovers, the form of the Canadian-born winger has attracted the attention of Premier League big boys Newcastle United and Arsenal. And, even more unfortunately for the Lancashire club, he could leave for nothing in the summer.
His contract expires in June and Kean knows full well that he will face a tough fight to keep hold of the 21-year-old.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Kean said: “If someone is out of contract and is playing the way he’s playing, there are going to be teams interested.
“We want him to stay here because he’s playing out of his skin. Would he play week in week out if he went to another club? I don’t know.
“We hope that we can get ourselves into a position of safety and then make him an offer.”
Safety is starting to look increasingly likely for Rovers who are now five points off the drop zone and just fifth favourites to be relegated.
However, the lure of a massive club like Arsenal or Newcastle will be hard to resist for Hoilett – especially as he can expect a bumper pay packet if he leaves on a free – and it’s difficult to see him remaining at Ewood Park beyond the end of the season.
And, with the Gunners now up to third and poised for Champions League qualification, they must surely be favourites for his signature.
