‘Maybe four’ – Tomasson makes Blackburn Rovers signing pledge

Jon Dahl Tomasson believes Rovers need up to four more new signings – but is pleased with the business done so far.

 

New signing Sondre Tronstad played his first 45 minutes in Rovers colours as pre-season started with a friendly against Accrington Stanley.

Neither of Rovers’ two attacking signings, Niall Ennis or Arnor Sigurdsson, featured as Rovers drew the opening 60 minute match 0-0, while the second ending 2-2.

After missing out on a play-off spot on goal difference, and losing top scorer Ben Brereton and Bradley Dack from last season’s squad, Tomasson believes extra firepower is still needed on top of Ennis and Sigurdsson’s arrivals.

“Hopefully. I’m happy with three players at the moment which is really good,” the Rovers head coach said of potential incomings.

“We all know that we had a great season last season, great progress within this project, but we also saw that we were missing goals in the end with those good opportunities which we created.

“We shouldn’t forget that we’ve lost 23 goals with Diaz and Dack, two excellent players, and of course players who are who high earners in the budget.

“I expect players to improve the scoring record in the building.

“I know the recruitment team is working hard and hopefully they will arrange it sooner rather than later so we can use the time to get them fit and the way I want to play football.

“We need more players and players who can score goals.”

Rovers hit their self-imposed three signing target before the end of June and head out to Austria on Sunday for a week-long training camp.

Tomasson insists more incomings are needed to add to his squad ahead of the new season however, but knows Rovers face a balancing act with their budget.

The club are interested in a move for Sunderland defender Danny Batth to replace the departing Daniel Ayala, but it is attackers that are Tomasson’s main focus.

He said: “In my mind we need three new players, maybe four, in my head.

“That could be a centre half because we’ve lost Ayala and someone with a little bit more experience.

“Let’s wait and see.

“The main thing at the moment is a player who can score goals.

“I know Rovers is an interesting and tough project but I’m always up for a good challenge in that way but we need goals.”

A striker to add competition to Sam Gallagher is Tomasson’s main target, with Rovers having failed to do so in the January transfer market.

That could see Rovers look at loan options in that position given the associated cost of strikers on the market.

Tomasson said: “They cost money and then you need to loan those players.

“If you want to be competitive in this great league, and I think it will be even better this season, then we need to show the ambition as a club.

“At the moment I think we need to bring in two players of our own and two players as loan players.

“Football is extremely football, extremely dynamic, and that could change depending on what we can get and regarding budget.”