Blackburn Rovers plan central defensive signing to fill Ayala void

Ayala will leave the club after three years when his contract comes to an end next month.

That followed the departure of Bradley Dack, meaning two of Rovers’ oldest, but also most experienced, players were allowed to move on.

Gregg Broughton says the club will look to have an average age of just above 24, but knows Rovers must find more experience to ensure that figure doesn’t drop drastically.

Rovers are still well stocked in central defence, despite Ayala’s departure, with the Spaniard having struggled to hold down a regular place over the course of his Rovers tenure, largely due to fitness issues.

Rovers have Dom Hyam, Hayden Carter, Scott Wharton and Ash Phillips all under contract for at least the next two seasons, while Sam Barnes will also come into the reckoning having missed the entirety of last season with a knee injury.

But Broughton said: “I think we will need to add at least one in that position depending on what else happens in the transfer window.

“I think if you’re losing someone of Daniel’s experience and Bradley’s experience as well that you ensure you can bring players in with similar experience.

“For us it’s about getting that balance right.

“We think an average age of about 24-and-a-half is about right for our model.

“If you lose two players who are 29 and 32 and just replace them with 20 or 21-year-olds then you are going to drag it too far to the inexperienced level which we don’t feel is right.

“This transfer window is about continuing to focus on young, hungry talent, but realise we need to replace the experience that has gone out of the building.”

Ayala made 28 for Rovers last season, more than the two previous, and was an integral part of the side in the first half of the season.

Broughton feels his experience could have come in handy had he not suffered a hamstring injury in mid-February which didn’t see him feature again until the final day win at Millwall.

Given he is one of the higher earners, his lack of game-time and the options in that positions however, Broughton said that all came into the thinking when discussing the 32-year-old’s future.

He added: “It did, and Dan was hugely unlucky with his injuries post-Christmas.

“Pre-Christmas he was a vital part of the team, and post-Christmas he just wasn’t on the pitch as much as he or we would have liked.

“I think we missed him going into those last few games, someone who could have either started or come on and made a real difference in those final few minutes.

“You saw at Millwall when he was able to come on and do that.

“I think he was a huge miss post-Christmas.

“Ultimately it’s about saying what was best for the player and what’s best for the club going forwards.”