Sunderland defender Danny Batth has emerged as a summer transfer target for Tony Mowbray's old side Blackburn Rovers - although the Black Cats have no reason to sell. A report over the weekend claimed Rovers were keen on the 32-year-old, and our sister title LancsLive says it understands there is some 'credibility' to the link.
But Batth was a key figure for Sunderland last season, starting 39 out of 46 Championship games before a knee injury cut short his season in April. Batth joined Sunderland from Stoke City in January 2022, signing an initial 18-month contract which would have expired this summer but the club triggered an extension last season which means it still has another year to run.
LancsLive says Sunderland would have to be willing to allow Batth to leave for nothing for a deal to be viable, and that would appear to be a non-starter given that the Black Cats opted to extend the player's contract for another 12 months. Injuries, including to Batth, left Sunderland without any specialist centre-backs for the final stages of the season.
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The club has addressed that area during the current transfer window, signing Dutchman Jenson Seelt from PSV Eindhoven and Australia U23 international Nectarios Triantis from Central Coast Mariners. In addition, Dan Ballard should be fit for the start of the season although Aji Alese will be out of action for a while longer.
But Batth brings some much-needed experience to the heart of defence and head coach Mowbray will not want one of the mainstays of last season's side to leave - particularly with another experienced central defender, Bailey Wright, having already departed. For their part, Blackburn are looking to strengthen their own central defensive area with director of football Gregg Broughton reportedly looking at a number of options to replace former Middlesbrough defender Daniel Ayala, who left Ewood Park this summer.
