Blackburn Rovers have enjoyed a promising season in the Championship so far, with Tony Mowbray’s side having kept themselves in and around the play-off places heading into the final nine matches.

Rovers have managed to do well to keep themselves in the mix for promotion still, especially considering that Mowbray’s side have suffered long-term injuries to both Bradley Dack and Lewis Holtby, while they also lost their number one goalkeeper David Raya to Brentford last summer.

Mowbray decided to bring in Christian Walton on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion to compensate for the loss of Raya, and the keeper has managed to perform well at Ewood Park but he looks set to return to his parent club in the summer. That will leave Rovers needing a new number one and they are reportedly considering another move for Sunderland keeper Jon McLaughlin.

Here then, we take a look at TWO reasons a move for the keeper would be a wise one and TWO reasons why they should consider other targets…

Pro: McLaughlin’s experience and quality

The main reason why McLaughlin would appear to be a potentially wise investment for Rovers this summer, is because the 32-year-old offers plenty of experience between the sticks, having enjoyed successful spells with the likes of Bradford City, Burton Albion and now Sunderland.

The keeper has spent most of his career playing in both League One and League Two, but he did enjoy an impressive personal campaign in the Championship with Burton Albion in the 2016/17 season to play a key role in helping the Brewers maintain their status in the English second tier.

That, therefore, shows he should have the quality to come in and offer a reliable presence between the sticks for Rovers were they to bring him to the club, and he has also been in good form for Sunderland throughout this season, managing to fend off a challenge from Lee Burge for the club’s number one position.

QUIZ: These 15 players have played for both Blackburn Rovers and Burnley -true or false?

Pro: McLaughlin could be available on a free

Considering that Blackburn do not have the financial resources of some of the other teams in the Championship, it could be wise for them to make the move for McLaughlin, who is set to be out of contract in the summer and would therefore be able to be signed on a free transfer.

That would potentially mean that Rovers would be able to save some of their transfer budget, whilst also ensuring that they strengthen their goalkeeping department which will be a crucial thing they need to sort in the summer, so a move for the 32-year-old could be an ideal one.

Were Blackburn to bring in the keeper on a free, it could enable them to spend more money on other areas of the squad that will be in need of strengthening, with defence a key area that they will potentially light on in the summer given that Tosin Adarabioyo is set to return to Manchester City.

Con: Rovers could need a more long-term number one

One reason why Blackburn might need to consider moving for a different option to strengthen their goalkeeping options is that Mowbray’s side might be needing to identify a more younger keeper, who they could potentially develop and then maybe even sell on for a profit in a few years.

Given McLaughlin is 32-years-old and has only ever spent one season in the Championship, there would be little prospect of Rovers having any real re-sale value in the keeper, and that means that finding an alternative to develop might be better for the club financially.

There will also be the potential problem where a couple of seasons they could be back to square one looking for another keeper, if they were to sign McLaughlin, which means that Rovers might want to consider bringing in a more long-term option between the sticks.

Con: McLaughlin’s lack of Championship experience

Although McLaughlin did manage to perform well for Burton Albion during the 2016/17 season, that remains his only ever full campaign playing in the English second tier, which means there could be some doubts over how well he would be able to perform week in week out in the English second tier.

Blackburn, if they do not reach the play-offs when the season resumes, will be setting their target on a top six finish next term in the Championship, and that is something that McLaughlin has never challenged for in his career, so again there could be doubts over whether he is good enough to be the number one at a promotion-chasing Championship side.