After handing ex-Aston Villa Nathan Delfouneso an extended trial, Lancashire club Blackburn Rovers have signed the former Premier League youngster on a one-year contract following his release by Blackpool in May. The former England U21 man had loan spells at Burnley, Leicester and Coventry having failed to nail down a regular slot in the Aston Villa squad. The 24-year old scored in a pre-season friendly against Oldham in a game that was held up by a bee infestation around one of the goalposts of a temporary set of warm-up goals.
With teams looking out for that bargain player, Blackburn might have been tempted by his Premier League and England U-21 pedigree as they seek to bolster their attacking options ahead of the 2015/16 Championship season and their own personal opening game against Wolves. In signing for Rovers, the ex-Aston Villa man becomes Blackburn’s fourth signing of the summer transfer period.
As with any signing, a good place to gauge fan opinion is through social media with Twitter usually the place where this is often the best gauge.
Delfouneso becomes a Rover – Twitter returns opinion
From Rovers fans expressing gladness at signing a Premier League experience player…
Glad to see another signing in. Nathan Delfouneso has Prem experience. Welcome to #Rovers!
— Dan Clough 🇺🇦 (@DanClough87) August 6, 2015
…to some urging guarded caution.
https://twitter.com/MartinMJ22/status/629286855020802048
Some fans are deleriously joyous…
@Gregzillla Rovers sign ex Villa legend Nathan Delfouneso. Let the good times roll
— David Judge (@DavidJudge87) August 6, 2015
…and the joyous excitement knows no bounds in some places.
https://twitter.com/ZaidGulma/status/629293699319603200
Despite Blackburn’s announcement, some fans aren’t convinced…
https://twitter.com/lthornley1/status/629293290987331588
…whilst others are hoping that the new signing has packed his bags correctly for his Rovers’ stay.
https://twitter.com/MartinMJ22/status/629282943438077952
Some simply are not convinced in the slightest.
Blackburn replacing Rudy Gestede with Nathan Delfouneso…. Oh dear #brfc #rovers
— Anthony Cunningham (@C24ANT) August 6, 2015
With the loss of Rudy Gestede to Delfouneso’s old team Aston Villa, Blackburn could be said to be in the market for a replacement up front. In signing Delfouneso it could be that Blackburn are hoping that they are gaining a diamond in the rough and that gentle polishing may leave him gleaming. Their fans, however, seem a little undecided at his signing if the evidence from Twitter is anything to go by.
Featured image credit: Oldelpaso (Wikimedia Commons)
