Blackburn Rovers are interested in bringing the 32-year-old to Ewood Park. Sunderland would have to allow Batth to move for free for any deal to happen, though

Danny Batth has plenty of Championship experience.

The 32-year-old has been around the block once or twice, earning promotion with Wolves, struggling to get Stoke City on the right path and leading Sunderland back to the second tier. With over 300 Championship appearances to his name, there isn’t much that is new.

It is little surprise that the challenge of more competition at Sunderland was not a problem for him. In April, Tony Mowbray very publicly revealed he’d held talks with stand-in captain Batth that new signings would be coming to try and take his spot this summer.

They have followed in the form of two new defensive arrivals. Those signings have undoubtedly sparked Blackburn Rovers’ interest in a player that started 37 league games before his season was curtailed by injury.

“I think every club has to have competition for places,” Batth said in April, when asked about Mowbray’s comments. “Look it won’t just be me who has competition for places, it will be Dan, and Luke, and Aji.

“There should be competition all over the pitch. We were preparing for the game against Cardiff the other day and we haven’t got that depth of squad because of the injuries we’ve got.

“We’ve got goalkeepers playing outfield as we are trying to replicate what Cardiff do. There are holes in the squad that are going to be filled and that will be no different at any other club in the league.

“I always enjoy a challenge. If you want to be successful you have to have a training group that really drives the standard.”

Batth’s leadership qualities and Championship experience would be an asset to the Rovers dressing room. After the departures of Bradley Dack and Daniel Ayala, the 32-year-old is seen as someone who could be an important role model for those emerging into the second-tier spotlight.

“It’s not the first club I’ve captained,” Batth said, discussing his natural leadership abilities. “Obviously Corry (Evans) is out injured and I’ve been leading the team but you don’t need an armband to do that.

“I think it’s always been a responsibility I’ve taken upon myself and I just try to be a good example and voice for the team. We’re not full of talkers, we haven’t got too many that are extroverts.

“I think organising as best I can and trying to perform well myself gives the rest of the lads in front of us confidence that they can take risks and we’ll still be there to defend.”