As they head into the 2025/26 Championship campaign, Blackburn Rovers’ squad is beginning to become a lot clearer, but one thing that Valerien Ismael needs to ensure is more game time for 17-year-old attacker Igor Tyjon.
The Lancastrians appeared to be in disarray following the surprise departure of John Eustace to Derby County in the second-half of last season, and supporters began protesting quite vociferously.
Eustace was replaced by former Barnsley and West Bromwich Albion boss Ismael, who has a mixed record in English football, and his start was a poor one, but they managed to finish extremely well and only just missed out on the top six and the play-off places on the final day of the campaign.
After something of a shake-up to their squad over the summer to ensure they have the best suited personnel for Ismael’s fairly extreme tactical ideology, Rovers have to also make sure that they keep Igor Tyjon happy, amid interest from Arsenal.
Blackburn must keep Tyjon content at Ewood Park
17-year-old Igor Tyjon is one of the most highly-rated youngsters in the EFL, and he has reportedly been the subject of interest from Arsenal, who are continuing to pursue the Southport-born forward.
Tyjon joined Blackburn’s impressive academy setup in 2023, having began his career with Rochdale, and he broke into the first-team at Ewood Park last season, making two appearances for the club.
Valerien Ismael
He initially made his debut under the management of Eustace, but was then not seen again on the pitch until a five-minute cameo in a 1-0 defeat of Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Easter Monday.
Tyjon, who is an England U17 international but has also represented both England and Poland at U16 level, will be expected to feature even more prominently in the Rovers first-team this year.
That expectation may have to become a necessity for Ismael and Rovers if they are to ensure they can keep hold of a prized asset, in order to potentially maximise his value down the line.
With the Gunners sniffing around with a view to forming a part of their development squad, it begs the question as to why Tyjon wouldn’t push for that if he wasn’t getting first-team minutes at Ewood Park.
In order for Blackburn to stave off interest from Arsenal and keep Tyjon happy and interested in Lancashire, it has to be the case that Ismael must ensure he plays an increased role in the first-team this season.
Blackburn have done extremely well with their youngsters
Tyjon is likely to be convinced that Blackburn will indeed continue to bed him into the side, especially with how well the club have handled academy players in the recent past.
The biggest example of that would be the development of midfielder Adam Wharton, who shone with regular game time at Blackburn before his move to Crystal Palace, and he is now an FA Cup winner and an England international with the world at his feet.
Adam Wharton England
The Blackburn squad is chock-full of academy graduates playing genuinely key roles in the first-team picture, such as Scott Wharton, Hayden Carter, John Buckley, Harry Leonard, Jake Batty, Jake Garrett and club captain Lewis Travis. Joe Rankin-Costello was recently sold on to Charlton Athletic, but new names have been added to the ranks.
Blackburn's summer 2025 incomings
Player
Dion De Neve
Sidnei Tavares
Ryan Alebiosu
Sean McLoughlin
Lewis Miller
Axel Henriksson
Despite those additions, Tyjon will hope to become the latest ‘proper’ member of the Blackburn first-team, and that is a wish Rovers may have to grant if they are to stave off interest from Arsenal and elsewhere.