Blackburn Rovers centre-back Tom Atcheson was the subject of enquiries from Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Sunderland and Crystal Palace in the summer window.
Blackburn Rovers’ poor summer transfer window has been well-documented, with nowhere near enough business done off the back of last season’s 20th place finish. They avoided significant departures though, and one man eyed was teenage defender Tom Atcheson.
A report from TEAMtalk has revealed that Rovers rejected late approaches for the Northern Ireland international from a string of clubs. All of Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Sunderland and Crystal Palace made enquiries regarding Atcheson, it is claimed.
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Rovers had no interest of entertaining offers with Atcheson’s future secured by a new long-term contract signed earlier this year. He penned new terms in April, though it is not said how long the deal runs for.
Why Blackburn Rovers resisted summer interest in top youngster Tom Atcheson
There are a lot of faults to pick out at Blackburn Rovers, but they are one of the Championship’s best when it comes to developing young players. With Tony Mowbray at the helm, they have a manager who is willing to entrust these prospects with senior opportunities too.
Atcheson first broke through under Valerien Ismael amid a centre-back shortage and reclaimed his place under compatriot Michael O’Neill. He played a key role in Rovers’ climb away from the relegation zone and has maintained his spot in the team with Mowbray.
At only 19, Atcheson has proven he can more than manage Championship football. He has handled the step up physically and boasts the ball progression abilities to go and play at a very high level in the game.
Pair this with a good mentality, and Atcheson is a top prospect. Rovers are abundantly aware of this, and they will feel that by fending off interest now, they can let him develop and grow more, becoming a highly valuable financial asset to yield a big sale in the years to come.
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The Verdict: Tom Atcheson can follow the footsteps of past Blackburn Rovers academy stars
Atcheson is not the first bright prospect to emerge from the Blackburn Rovers ranks and will not be the last. He will hope to follow in the footsteps of those who have established themselves at a good level of the game in recent times.
Adam Wharton is the headline name, emerging as one of England’s best midfield prospects. He is a star player for Crystal Palace and regularly in the conversation for a place in the national team setup.
David Raya established himself at Rovers before becoming a star at Brentford and then Arsenal.
More recently, Ashley Phillips – now of Middlesbrough – earned a notable move to Tottenham Hotspur. Igor Tyjon left in the summer to join Arsenal after a lengthy transfer saga.
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