Blackburn sign Gomes but want countryman to complete activity

If Blackburn manage to retain their current squad for the forthcoming Championship season then 11/1 looks a massive price that they bounce back to the Premier League as champions.

There is a strong possibility that some of their relegated squad will follow Junior Hoilett out of the Ewood Park exit, with Paul Robinson, Steven N’Zonzi and Martin Olsson known to be among those who would like to move on.

Robinson has been linked with a switch to Fulham, Arsenal are thought to be big admirers of N’Zonzi and Olsson has interested Stoke.

However, no serious offers have come in as yet for the threesome and if they can be convinced to stay at Ewood Park for one more season, a serious title push beckons.

Nuno Gomes is the fourth new face to have already arrived this summer and the early opinion is that he will fill the role of support striker to either fellow new recruit Leon Best or David Goodwillie.

Gomes will bring valuable experience to a team that already has a solid spine, with Danny Murphy joining David Dunn in midfield, while Gael Givet and Scott Dann are likely to feature in defence.

The fourth new recruit so far is exciting young Portuguese winger Fabio Nunes and it is back in Portugal where Steve Kean is hoping to complete his transfer activity.

Sporting Lisbon midfielder Adrien Silva has been identified as the final piece of the jigsaw and Kean is optimistic of wrapping up the deal before the start of next week.

Some Blackburn fans will still believe that success will be nonexistent under Kean’s stewardship, but at worst 7/2 may appeal that the club simply secure promotion, either automatically or via the play-offs.