Danny Batth to fight for Sunderland spot after rejecting Blackburn switch

It seems the reigning Black Cat's player of the season isn't willing to give up on his Sunderland future just yet.

Author:
Michael Graham
Publish date:
Aug 24, 2023 9:55 AM EDT

Danny Batth wants to stay and Sunderland and fight to regain his spot in the team after reportedly rejecting a move to Blackburn Rovers.

Journalist Alan Nixon, who is very well-connected with clubs in the northwest, claims the deal has fallen through despite a free transfer and two-year contract agreed.

However, with Blackburn dragging their heels, the report claims that Batth has pulled the plug on the deal himself.

The centre-back was Sunderland’s player of the season in 2022/23 although he has fallen out of favour due to the Black Cats attempting to shift to becoming a possession-based team.

That has seen Luke O’Nien get the nod ahead of him so far this campaign, and with new signings Jenson Seelt and Nectarios Triantis waiting for an opportunity, along with the soon-to-be fit again Aji Alese, Batth’s opportunities do look limited.

However, it appears that he is willing to back himself to earn back his spot in the side in the coming months rather than move to Ewood Park.

A deal could conceivably be resurrected, and QPR are understood to be interested as well, but for now at least it seems Batth is staying on Wearside.

Earlier this month, head coach Tony Mowbray explained Batth’s absence from the team as a purely tactical one.

"Luke O'Nien has been amazing and I find it difficult to pick a team without him in it at the moment," Mowbray said.

"He brings composure, he brings quality with the ball, he sees the spaces and steps into them. He steps past the striker with the ball and picks the pass into midfield, which helps the fluency of our team.

"With total respect to Danny, that's not his game. Danny's strengths are dealing with set plays, goal kicks and organising the defence and the midfield in front.

"At this moment in time, with total honesty to the supporters, I'm picking Ballard and O'Nien with all of the players there because I want them as the central defenders at this moment time."

"Danny is a brilliant guy and he's here, working hard, getting on with it and so he'll be involved. If Kristjaan [Speakman] calls me in one day and says we've received the bid and it's acceptable to everyone, then that'll happen. If not and the window shuts, I know Danny will get on with it and try and get in the team.

"And then there may well be times where we feel he need him and what he brings, and he'll be in the team."

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