Blackburn Rovers will need to continue their impressive record with Premier League loanees to help bridge the gap next season.

Valerien Ismael wants 90% of his squad through the door for the start of pre-season. That remains three weeks away but Rovers have yet to make a breakthrough in the transfer market.

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Whilst that target was always wishful thinking, the remaining '10%' left out by Ismael was always likely to be loan players. Often, Premier League clubs don't sanction deals for their brightest talents until August as they finalise their squads for the new season.

Quality loanees can often make the difference to a Championship club. Leeds United had Manor Solomon last term whilst Burnley were promoted thanks to Jaidon Anthony and Marcus Edwards, signed on loan albeit with an obligation to make the deal permanent.

Blackburn Rovers are no amateurs when it comes this themselves. Whether you want to go as far back as Harvey Elliott and Tosin Adarabioyo or more recent hits such as Jan Paul Van Hecke.

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Developing a strong relationship with top-flight clubs has been crucial to Rovers' work in the transfer market. They hold particularly strong relationships with Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion, who have sent players their way in each of the three of the last four seasons.

Owen Beck had more success than Amario Cozier-Duberry this time around. The Liverpool loanee often spoke enthusiastically about Ewood Park as a learning ground for young talent.

Whilst Beck was a clear exception to the rule, there is a clear pitfall around 'first loans'. In each of the last three years, Rovers have acquired players that have started well and fizzled out, owing to their lack of experience in first-team football.

Tyler Morton was perhaps guilty of this in his Rovers loan during 2022/23. A strong start but performances fizzled after Christmas despite playing an important role.

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That was certainly the case with Andy Moran. The talented Irishman was a big hit before Christmas but was overplayed as Rovers' thin squad was exposed. He never recovered and played a bit-part role as the club spiralled and barely avoided relegation.

Cozier-Duberry was similar, though he made the smallest contribution of the three players in question. His first start delivered a debut goal against Luton Town and it looked as though he would catch fire over the Christmas period.

Instead, he burned brightly but fizzled out. John Eustace left, he got injured and never gained the trust of Valerien Ismael, who left him out of the final two matchday squads.

It is a difficult balance to strike. Players such as Tom Cannon have shone on their first loans. When picking up the Premier League scraps, it's hard to be too picky.

Yet if Rovers can perhaps be the second or even third step for a young player, who has perhaps cut their teeth lower down in the pyramid, it might stand them in good stead to feel the full benefit.