Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Christian Walton is attracting the interest of Premier League clubs ahead of the summer transfer window, following his impressive performances for Rovers during his loan spell from Brighton, according to the Football Insider.

Walton arrived at Ewood Park in the summer on a season-long loan deal from Brighton, with Tony Mowbray looking for a replacement for David Raya who left the club to sign for Brentford, and the keeper has gone on to establish himself as Rovers’ first choice between the sticks so far this campaign.

The 24-year-old has been a mainstay for Blackburn in the Championship, with Walton delivering some impressive performances and making some standout saves to help Rovers climb to within three points of the play-off places – and Mowbray has previously revealed that he decided to keep hold of the keeper in January, despite Brighton enquiring if they were wanting to send him back.

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It is now thought that Walton’s performances during his time at Ewood Park have caught the attentions of some Premier League clubs, which could mean that Brighton are set to face a real battle to keep the 24-year-old come the summer transfer window, when he returns to the club.

The verdict

Walton has been one of Blackburn’s most reliable performers so far this season, and the keeper seems to be improving with each passing game at the moment, having kept another clean sheet last weekend in Rovers’ 2-0 win at Charlton Athletic, a win which moved them to within just three points of the top six.

Given the 24-year-old’s form for Rovers throughout the season, it is little surprise to see that other Premier League clubs would be interested in making a potential move for him in the summer, and the keeper has shown whilst at Blackburn he could have the ability to perform at a higher level.

Blackburn themselves will be needing a new long-term number one in the summer, but their prospects of bringing Walton back to the club might not be very high were they to remain in the Championship, but if they were able to make the play-offs and then earn promotion they could well be in the mix to sign him.

Mowbray deserves some credit for the way he has stuck by Walton at the beginning of his loan spell, when he was at times questioned over a few mistakes, but the more the season has progressed the more impressive and reliable the 24-year-old’s performances have become.