Talks between Championship duo Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough are underway as Rovers boss Tony Mowbray looks to seal a deal to bring winger Harry Chapman to Ewood Park.
Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray has told the Lancashire Telegraph that they have been given permission to talk to winger Harry Chapman regarding a permanent move away from promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough.
Mowbray has revealed that they have held talks with Boro and that they are now able to speak to the winger directly. Chapman’s deal at The Riverside runs out at the end of this season and Middlesbrough are looking to find him a new team before the deadline instead of losing him on a free at the end of the season.
“We have had some conversations and we have had permission to talk to him,” Mowbray said to the Lancashire Telegraph.
“Let’s hope it is concluded but what I would say is that we know him, we like what he does and we like his attributes, but he is still a very young boy.”
Mowbray added that the plan is to send Chapman out on loan for the rest of the season to ensure he picks up some game time.
“I have told Harry he is going to find it really difficult to impact on this team and there is a fair chance we might even bring him in and send him out on loan because I feel he will benefit from playing lots of games.
“Yet once we sign him he will be here for the next three or four years.
“If he is going to sit on our bench or not even get in the 18 for the next three or four months then he might as well go and play some football and get fit and get some confidence and come back pre-season ready to try and get in our team.”
Chapman spent the 2017/18 League One season on loan with Blackburn Rovers, as they won promotion back to the second tier of English football.
Chapman featured in Blackburn’s first 16 games of the season, but sadly, that was all he could manage. A string of hamstring injuries saw him ruled out for the majority of the second half of the season. Despite this, Rovers boss Mowbray has remained keen on a reunion since his departure.
Now, with discussions underway, Rovers will look to seal a deal before Thursday’s deadline.
