Blackburn Rovers boss Valerien Ismael has confirmed Igor Tyjon is considered a first-team player as they look to fend off interest.
Blackburn Rovers are a club renowned for their development of young players, especially ones from their academy.
The Ewood Park outfit have found success in recruiting prospects from elsewhere, but plenty of talents have been reared in their setup too. Some have come all the way through the ranks – such as Wharton brothers Scott and Adam – while some have been snapped up from other academies.
former blackburn rovers star adam wharton
Image courtesy of: JOHN SIBLEY/REUTERS.
Among the latter is forward Igor Tyjon, who joined the U18s from Rochdale in 2023. Since then, he has cemented his place as one of Rovers’ biggest talents, and that hasn’t gone unnoticed with Arsenal keen on signing him.
However, speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph, Valerien Ismael has confirmed he and Blackburn Rovers have made a clear plan to try and convince Tyjon to stay put.
The French boss revealed that, with Tyjon’s parents, a clear plan for his development has been laid out. The England youth international is now viewed as part of the first-team squad, and he will be given opportunities to land a place in the side. Blackburn Rovers chief Ismael said:
“Igor is part of the first-team squad. We make a clear plan with him. He didn’t have that from the past.
“At the end of the last season, I sat with him and his parents and explained the way we want to work with him, to improve him. He will have the chance in the pre-season. So this is now what’s happened.
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“Now it’s up to him to show us that he’s ready. At least we see the quality that he can help us and we go from there. We have a clear plan with him to train with the first-team.”
A clear path to the first-team at Blackburn Rovers
As has been displayed plenty before, there is a clear path from the Blackburn Rovers academy to the senior setup.
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Of the current first-team squad, all of Scott Wharton, Lewis Travis, Jake Garrett, John Buckley and Harry Leonard first made names for themselves in the Rovers youth ranks. Plenty have been and gone over the years too, such as Charlton Athletic new boy Joe-Rankin-Costello.
blackburn rovers, ‘We have a clear plan’ – Valerien Ismael confirms Blackburn Rovers bid to keep Arsenal target
Image courtesy of: JOHN SIBLEY/REUTERS.
This combined with Ismael’s plan show the route to the side is there for Tyjon to follow. He will have to prove he’s capable of making such a jump if he stays, but the offer of senior football in the not-too-distant future should go a long way to retaining his services.
Tyjon’s transfer dilemma
The options open to Tyjon aren’t particularly unique – a whole host of top talents have to weigh up whether to move to an elite academy for their development, or stay put and make a quicker transition into senior football with a club further down the ladder.
Blackburn Rovers have made their play to try and convince Tyjon penning a professional deal with them will be for the best. They will be able to offer a quicker route to senior football than Arsenal.
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However, the Gunners are another club held in high regard for their youth development, and the exposure Tyjon would have to elite facilities and coaching will be understandably tempting.
Ultimately, it will be down to the 17-year-old and his family to weigh up what will be best for his career, but Rovers have made their effort to convince him to stay.
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