Blackburn make decision on future of Leeds loanee Douglas – report
Blackburn Rovers are not looking to send Barry Douglas back to Leeds United despite their pursuit of another left-back, according to Lancashire Live.
The Championship play-off hopefuls have been chasing Crewe Alexandra defender Harry Pickering but have seen a bid rejected for the 22-year-old who has been so impressive in League One this season.
News of a formal bid for the left-back has increased doubts over the short-term future of Douglas who is currently on a season-long loan deal from Leeds.
However, Lancashire Live report that “as things stand, Rovers have no intention of returning Douglas to Leeds United, regardless of Pickering being signed or not”.
The report added: “The 31-year-old makes for a valuable utility option in the squad and with right-back a position of concern given the mounting injuries in that department, Douglas had proved against Birmingham he is capable of deputising in that role.”
Blackburn also have Amari’i Bell as a left-back option with he and Douglas sharing responsibilities so far this season, but a move for Pickering could be a threat to the first-team chances of both players.
Good news for Leeds
Leeds will likely be relieved as they would have had to find a new club to take Douglas and cover at least part of his wages for the rest of the season.
Douglas has not had the most impressive of starts to his time at Blackburn and seems to be suffering long-lasting effects of the injury he sustained last season.
He was never the quickest and the injury seems to have affected this further with his inability to get up and down the Rovers flank limiting the team.
Douglas is yet to score this season and has just one assist in 12 Championship outings (WhoScored).
This is in sharp contrast to the previous successes he enjoyed in the Championship with a tally of five goals and 14 assists for Wolves in the 2017/18 campaign convincing Leeds to sign him.
Left-back is actually an area Leeds might be looking to strengthen with Stuart Dallas having to cover on the right hand side and Ezgjan Alioski struggling against some of the bigger sides in the division.
However Douglas has proved he certainly is not up to Premier League standard and Leeds will be hopeful Blackburn’s stance on keeping him does not change even if they do acquire Pickering.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay reports on the Whites reaction to the potential postponement of Southampton game.