"I believe" - Journalist drops John Eustace, West Brom claim | OneFootball

John Eustace has been linked with a move to West Brom following Carlos Corberan's departure

Blackburn Rovers manager John Eustace would be open to a move to West Brom should an approach be made, according to BBC journalist Chris Lepkowski.

The Baggies are currently searching for a replacement for Carlos Corberan, who departed for Valencia at the end of December.

Albion will be looking to appoint a coach that can lead the club to another top six finish, with the team in the mix for a play-off place at this stage of the season.

A number of names have been linked to the role, but no clear front-runner has yet emerged amid reports suggesting Eustace is a possible candidate.

John Eustace’s West Brom stance

Lepkowski has claimed that a move to West Brom wouldn’t be a problem for Eustace, despite the club’s current financial issues.

While he understands that there has yet to be an official approach, he has suggested that contact between the two parties has been made.

“Now, I don’t know whether John Eustace will be pursued in an official capacity, whether they will approach Blackburn and go for him,” said Lepkowski, via The Liquidator podcast.

“Again, I know there has been some form of dialogue and I know that John Eustace, who still lives in the West Midlands, would probably welcome a move, I believe.

“Irrespective of potential issues that we have with PSR, I don’t think it would be a problem for him.

“I think he would react very positively should Albion make some form of a more formal approach. I do know that.”

John Eustace’s importance to Blackburn

Eustace is almost a full year in charge at Blackburn, arriving at Ewood Park in February 2024.

He helped the club avoid relegation last season, with Rovers coming 19th in the table, just three points clear of the bottom three.

The Lancashire outfit are now in the mix for a top six finish, competing against Albion for a play-off place.

Blackburn are seventh in the table, just one point behind sixth place West Brom but with a game in hand on their promotion rivals.

Eustace move would be a real blow for Blackburn

It would be a real loss for Blackburn to lose Eustace, especially to a rival who are so close to them in the table this season.

However, the opportunity to move to the Baggies would be a promising one, and it’s no surprise that the 45-year-old would be open to it.

While West Brom are still managing some financial issues, they are in a better position to spend in the future compared to Blackburn, and have a greater immediate potential than Rovers.

His move to West Brom would also be a kick in the teeth for his former club, and Albion’s local rivals, Birmingham City, given they harshly sacked him for Wayne Rooney in October 2023.