Posted August 3, 200915 yr On a season long loan. From Sky: Di Santo holding Rovers talks Sky Sports News understands Chelsea striker Franco Di Santo is at Blackburn Rovers to discuss a season-long loan move. Rovers manager Sam Allardyce is keen to bolster his frontline following Roque Santa Cruz's departure to Manchester City. It now seems that Blackburn are closing in on the capture of Argentine attacker Di Santo. The 20-year-old joined Chelsea from Audax Italiano in 2008 but has failed to score in any of his 16 appearances for the club If true then it would obviously do him the world of good to get a big more Premiership experience under his belt. And we can always recall him if necessary. Edited August 3, 200915 yr by Lofty
August 3, 200915 yr I heard about this a few weeks ago, but due to the lack of news on it and Di Santo's excellent performances in America, I assumed it had fallen through.
August 3, 200915 yr It was first mentioned just before Carlo took over and the put on hold because Carlo wanted to check out the squad first. At the time it was said that the deal was pretty much finalised pending Carlo's approval so it would appear this confirms that Carlo sees him haivng little chance of first team football with us this season.
August 3, 200915 yr I think it'd be a fantastic move; Big Sam seems really keen on getting him, which can only be good for all involved really, as it's quite likely it won't be another Ben Sahar....
August 3, 200915 yr Good move For Franco it gives him valuable game time. For us it allows us to see if he is upto the job in the premiership. Will this mean another forward coming in perhaps? Surely we're not going to leave ourselves so threadbare again in the forward positions especially with Drogba out for the opening 3 champions league games. Edited August 3, 200915 yr by charierre
August 3, 200915 yr Good move For Franco it gives him valuable game time. For us it allows us to see if he is upto the job in the premiership. Will this mean another forward coming in perhaps? Surely we're not going to leave ourselves so threadbare again in the forward positions especially with Drogba out for the opening 3 champions league games. I'm thinking the same, I've got my fingers crossed Aguero is coming to join us.
August 3, 200915 yr YES. That would be an excellent move. A year of being a real first teamer in the Premiership can only do him good Blackburn being Big Sam's team, im sure a big striker like Di Santo will be a regular up front to ping longballs off of him.
August 3, 200915 yr http://www.chelseafc.com/news/franco-rover...2243335_1742454 Stays at Blackburn until the end of the year. The fact that he just stays there to january is probably a sign that we are not going to buy another striker.
August 3, 200915 yr http://www.chelseafc.com/news/franco-rover...2243335_1742454Stays at Blackburn until the end of the year. The fact that he just stays there to january is probably a sign that we are not going to buy another striker. Maybe the plan is to give him some Premiership experience so we can use him when Drogba and Kalou leave to play in the African Nations Cup.
August 3, 200915 yr Maybe the plan is to give him some Premiership experience so we can use him when Drogba and Kalou leave to play in the African Nations Cup. Exactly. If we was going to sign another striker he would have stayed at Blackburn until the end of the season.
August 3, 200915 yr Maybe the plan is to give him some Premiership experience so we can use him when Drogba and Kalou leave to play in the African Nations Cup. Very good point.
August 3, 200915 yr Will this mean another forward coming in perhaps? Surely we're not going to leave ourselves so threadbare again in the forward positions especially with Drogba out for the opening 3 champions league games. Well we already have Sheva, Kalou, Pizzaman and Sturridge as backup for Drogba and Anelka. Even if Pizzaman leaves and Sheva too (though it doesn't seem like he will now) we still have a total of 4 strikers to chose from. So we are covered, even if it's not the best cover in the world. Would like to see Aguero as backup ;)
August 3, 200915 yr It would appear Blackburn have also spent over £10m on Nikola Kalinic from Hadjuk Split so Di Santo may just be, at best, a bench player at Blackburn as he will be competing with Kalinic, McCarthy and Diouf
August 3, 200915 yr I really think we need to start putting play clauses in to loan contracts... i understand its not that easy but they may as well be on are bench
August 4, 200915 yr I hope this is a good move for him, but if he goes up there to ahve about as much chance of playing as he does at Chelsea, then I can't see it being that great a deal. However, the fact that he's only gone for about 4 months is a good sign for us, but again make me think that it'll mean he's just a bench warmer for Blackburn. I also hope it means that we are looking at another striker Scott
August 4, 200915 yr It would appear Blackburn have also spent over £10m on Nikola Kalinic from Hadjuk Split so Di Santo may just be, at best, a bench player at Blackburn as he will be competing with Kalinic, McCarthy and Diouf i think he would be above diouf for definate as a front man, he plays wide left pretty much all the time now. i would say its 2 from kalinic, mccarthy and our boy, and as he didnt seem too keen on playing mccarthy last season he might get more time than you think. but i agree about the clause, it wuold be perfect for us if he got 6 months of play then came back in january ready to go.
August 4, 200915 yr I've never seen Kalinic but is he a target man type of striker? If so then Di Santo's playing time could be limited. Fat Sam always plays a target man and I dont think he sees McCarthy as one. McCarthy is better as a second striker than a target man. So the fight could be a straight duel between Santo and Kalinic with latter having the advantage of being not on loan till 1st of Jan while the former with some Prem experience... however little, it still counts.
August 4, 200915 yr I hope this is a good move for him, but if he goes up there to ahve about as much chance of playing as he does at Chelsea, then I can't see it being that great a deal. However, the fact that he's only gone for about 4 months is a good sign for us, but again make me think that it'll mean he's just a bench warmer for Blackburn.I also hope it means that we are looking at another striker Scott I believe he'll get a good amount of playing time. Blackburn were flirting with disaster last season and now without Santa Claus they look a bit thin up front. I think Sam feels he needs all the help he can get at the moment and what better way to do that then to inject some fight with a young hungry striker looking to prove himself?
August 4, 200915 yr I think it'd be a fantastic move; Big Sam seems really keen on getting him, which can only be good for all involved really, as it's quite likely it won't be another Ben Sahar.... Thats what I first thought, that it may be like Sahar with Pompey, but I think they only have 3 senior strikers. Roberts, McCarthy and Rigters and Blackburn dont seem to rate Rigters very highly so it looks good for Franco. I really like Di Santo, I think he can cut it. If he has a good season with Blackburn this season then Carlo may be prepared to give him a proper chance next season. -EDIT- Bah didnt know about Kalinic. I think Diouf is mainly employed on the wing, so 4th choice striker? Thats still more chances than he would have here. Edited August 4, 200915 yr by BlueDay
August 4, 200915 yr I heard Benni McCarthy may be leaving this summer too going back to Celta Vigo. If Kalou leaves we'll surely have to sign someone. i.e Aguero
August 4, 200915 yr the blackburn move will be good for di santo, hopefully he will get some regular first team action
August 4, 200915 yr Er, now im sure this is thelondonpaper being crap, but they claim that Blackburn have the option to BUY Franco come January. Please reassure me that this is them being stupid, as that would be a really sh*t move. Edited August 4, 200915 yr by Tim
August 4, 200915 yr Author I can't find any official mention of an option to buy. The story on the Official Site, here makes no mention of it: FRANCO ROVERS SWITCH Posted on: Mon 03 Aug 2009 Franco Di Santo has this evening joined Blackburn Rovers on loan until January 1. The 20-year-old Argentine forward moves on a half-season deal to Ewood Park after a lively pre-season, in which he scored one and set up the other in our 2-0 win over Club America. Di Santo arrived at Chelsea from Chilean side Audux Italiano in January 2008, proving a sensation in the reserves with seven goals in eight games. His form on our 2008 summer tour of Asia, which included another two strikes, saw him become a permanent member of the first team squad and take the number 9 shirt. Last season, Franco made his debut at home to Spurs in August, and went on to make 16 appearances, all as a substitute. Ah wait. I've just found this on the BBC: While Di Santo's deal is initially for about five months, Rovers have first option to extend the deal to the end of the season. Which makes a lot more sense.