Blues target George Hirst has completed his move to Blackburn Rovers, a loan with a view to a permanent switch having signed a new contract with parent club Leicester.

Town spent much of the summer chasing the 23-year-old frontman with a view to signing him on a permanent basis with the Foxes asking a very significant fee, well in excess of the £2 million previously reported, with Hirst at the time having only a year left on his existing contract.

Last week it emerged that Leicester were keen to tie the one-time Portsmouth loanee to a new deal and send him out on loan to the Championship.

TWTD reported in July that the Blues, who had had at least one offer turned down by the Foxes, were facing opposition from Championship clubs, primarily Blackburn.

“I’m ecstatic to get the deal done,” Hirst, the son of former England striker David, told the Rovers club site.

“It’s pretty late in the window but it’s been something that’s been going on in the background for a little while.

“It’s been going on whilst I’ve been playing in pre-season for Leicester and I’m delighted to get it over the line.

“I spoke to the gaffer a month or so ago and got the feeling off him that this was where I wanted to be. Seeds tend to grow. Once it was in my head, it kept growing and growing.

Rovers director of football Gregg Broughton added: “We are delighted to welcome George to Blackburn Rovers.

“He has been our first choice recruitment target as a striker all summer and, considering [manager] Jon Dahl [Tomasson]’s knowledge of the position, this shows just how highly we regard him.

“Jon has been able to clearly communicate to George how he will fit into our style of play and George has been able to explain how he feels we could get the best out of him both personally and professionally.

“Rovers fans should look forward to seeing a striker with a goal threat, good link-up play, the ability to press from the front and an ideal mentality for our environment.”

Hirst’s new Leicester deal runs until the summer of 2025 but the terms of his loan switch to Rovers includes an option to buy.

While continuing to maintain a watching brief regarding Hirst in recent weeks, Town turned their attention to alternative options as they look to add to their squad before Thursday’s deadline.

Sheffield United youngster Will Osula is believed to be among those on the list, while we understand former Blues striker Will Keane was also of interest.

The 29-year-old, whose current terms are up next summer, has had a successful spell at Wigan since his release by Town in the summer of 2020 and we understand is set to stay at with the Latics and sign a new deal.

Photo: Reuters

cressi added 19:28 - Aug 31 Word is 4 million been gutted if we spent that on a player with half a decent season behind him Just means Brereton will move on now
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Trequartista added 19:31 - Aug 31 "A new contract" ... "A view to a permanent switch". Do they want him keep him or not? I don't get modern football.
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herobobby added 19:37 - Aug 31 So bored !!!!!! He was never coming to us Thank god we can move on
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Bazza8564 added 19:41 - Aug 31 More interested in the player(s) that may still come in...... If he did'nt want to come here, then we are better off without him. It might save us funds to buy JJ outright
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PhilTWTD added 19:42 - Aug 31 Trequartista I get the impression they don't really know themselves. Hedging their bets.
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monty_radio added 19:49 - Aug 31 As the character based on Hearst said as his dream died:"Rosebud".
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muhrensleftfoot added 19:50 - Aug 31 Ah well. Shame but can't win them all
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ArnieM added 20:04 - Aug 31 It's laughable really, he's hardly Harry Kane is he !
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EastLondonBlue added 20:28 - Aug 31 Daryl Murphy on a years contract?
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gazzer1999 added 20:47 - Aug 31 Has Leon got a club yet?
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ringwoodblue added 20:52 - Aug 31 He didn't want to come to Town and that's fair enough. We move on.
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Len_Brennan added 20:53 - Aug 31 How Blackburn are describing him, & where they see him fitting into their style of play, are exactly the reasons we've spent much of the summer trying to get him to join Ipswich. They clearly feel he can do all the things we wanted him to do for us, & at a Championship standard. Pity; we move on.
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Gforce added 21:20 - Aug 31 Keane would be a decent addition, but sadly looks like we won't be getting him either.
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blueboy1981 added 21:33 - Aug 31 Don't put Hirst down because he hasn't signed for us, and gone elsewhere - we probably draggedour Heels, it's not unusual ! - you same people would havr been raving over him, if he'd signed for us today. And we did / do need someone - a couple of injuries (already !!) - and you'll realise we do … !!! A long season ahead !!
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churchmans added 22:16 - Aug 31 Blueboy1981 Bang on point! Same t#ats caning Simpson cos he want out! Both are very good strikers
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Europablue added 07:41 - Sep 1 blueboy1981 I don't think you can blame either our recruiters or any other party. He played in League One last year and wants to progress to the Championship.
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Churchman added 08:16 - Sep 1 Blueboy1981 What evidence do you have that we dragged our heels? We haven't done that since Evans' time. As Europablue suggests, it may just be as simple as him wanting to progress to the Championship. At 23 he's not done a lot in the game and Blackburn is an opportunity for him at a decent level. Looking at his record, he was a bit take or leave as far as I was concerned.

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runningout added 08:25 - Sep 1 Good luck to George. Hope he's as good as his old man
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Umros added 08:43 - Sep 1 The Curtis Tilt saga compares. Curtis who ? Exactly.
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blueboy1981 added 10:20 - Sep 1 Churchman - I said ‘probably' - did I not ?
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Edmundo added 16:18 - Sep 1 Much rather have a L1 oven ready striker than another youngster. We already have JJ and can call upon Academy players for cup experience.
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