Blackburn the start of Jordan’s road to success

Lower divisions, Opinion, Report, Transfer Market, UK
By O-Posts Team
Aug 30, 2021
2 comments

Jordan Rhodes has today finalised his move to Blackburn Rovers in a record breaking deal for Huddersfield. The bid, rumoured to be £8million, was Blackburn’s fifth bid for the Scottish international this summer until the Terriers reluctantly accepted the offer.

The 22-year-old joined on a five-year-deal as he aims to help Rovers return to the promised land of the Premier League. But the question is, with such a high fee, is he really worth it?

First of all, we must recognise that the £8million figure is the overall fee. It’s rumoured that the initial fee is £4.5 million with the rest being appearance and goals fees. If Rhodes manages to get the goals to help take Blackburn up into the Premier League, then the add-on fee’s would seem relatively small compared to the money they would bring in. And with Rhodes’s impressive scoring record, there is no doubt that he will help Blackburn on their mission.

In 126 games for Huddersfield, the clinical striker scored 76 times, a scoring record remarkable in any league. Since joining the club in 2009, Rhodes has scored over 20 goals every season, including 40 goals last term.

With six hat-tricks throughout the season, Rhodes went on to win the Golden Boot as well as the League One Player of the Year. His efforts were also gaining reputation in the media, coming fourth in FourFourTwo’s best Football League Players as he became heavily linked with Fulham and Everton.

Rhodes was rewarded with his efforts for Huddersfield and Scotland Under-21s (scoring eight goals) by coming on as a substitute for the senior team in November 2011. Then on his first full start against Australia in August, Rhodes scored his first senior goal. There is no doubt that Rhodes has the eye for goal at every level he has played at, and that has been shown by his two goals for Huddersfield in the start of their Championship campaign.

Rhodes’ signing adds to an already impressive Championship squad for Blackburn. With the full backing and money from the Venky owners, Steve Kean has been able to make some key acquisitions such as Danny Murphy, Dickson Etuhu, Nuno Gomez and Colin Kazim-Richards. There is no doubt that Blackburn has the squad capable of a swift return so the signing of Rhodes will give them extra fire power.

There will be questions as to whether Rhodes will have the ability to make it to the next level but time will tell. History shows us that players who perform in the lower leagues don’t always make it at the top level (Jermaine Beckford, Michael Chopra) but Rhodes does have the ability to improve into an all round striker. Rhodes has a fantastic eye for goal which at any level is extremely useful.

However, eyebrows will be raised at the size of the fee. It equals Blackburn’s record signing with Andrew Cole from Manchester United in 2001. For a club who have been in the Premier League for several years, it does seem strange for a record signing to be made in the Championship. Rover’s fans in particular will question why the money wasn’t used in the previous campaign.

Despite the fee being a bit on the expensive sides, you do feel that it will be worth it. Rhodes has the ability to score many goals in the Championship and will be playing in the Premier League whether it will be for Blackburn or another Premier League team.

O-Posts