Jeffrey de Lange: Blackburn’s deal hijacked by Marseille – sources
Marseille have hijacked Blackburn’s move for Dutch goalkeeper Jeffrey de Lange, sources have told Football Insider.
Blackburn have been in talks with Go Ahead Eagles over a deal for de Lange as Rovers boss John Eustace looks to bolster his goalkeeping ranks before the close of the transfer window.
However, Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille have made a late move for the 26-year-old and the player has travelled for talks and a medical leaving Rovers to look elsewhere for a new goalkeeper.
The Championship club rotated between shot stoppers Leopold Wahlstedt, 25, and Aynsley Pears, 26, for much of last season and are now looking for someone to be an undisputed first-choice.
Wahlstedt has now left Blackburn for Danish side AGF leaving the club lacking numbers between the sticks.
Jeffrey de Lange chooses Marseille over Blackburn
The Dutch goalkeeper ended the season with 38 appearances and 11 clean sheets in all competitions as the club secured a spot in the Europa Conference League qualifiers by finishing ninth.
Wahlstedt and Pears only managed 11 clean sheets between them as Blackburn narrowly avoided relegation, finishing 19th, just three points above Eustace’s old club Birmingham City.
It’s been a quiet transfer window for the Lancashire club having only brought in two first-team players as the new Championship season looms.
Japanese striker Yuki Ohashi joined from Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Makhtar Gueye signed from Belgian side RWDM.
In other news, Leeds make Sammie Szmodics transfer decision after Ipswich update.
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