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Blackburn boss Gary Bowyer wants to keep Alex Baptiste at Ewood Park next season.
The Wanderers defender has been at hit since joining the club’s local rivals on loan last summer but Neil Lennon has not ruled out bringing him back next season to see out the remaining year of his contract.
Should he decide to cash in, however, he would have a willing buyer in Bowyer – who has been impressed with the former Blackpool man this season, not least in their midweek FA Cup quarter final replay against Liverpool.
“I’d love to keep him,” Bowyer said. “You only have to see what he was prepared to do for us on Wednesday night, it just shows you the type of character that he is.
“Alex played probably 20 or 25 minutes with a pulled hamstring. I can’t speak highly enough of him, he just kept coming over and getting it strapped, and we had to drag him off in the end.
“It’s disappointing that he won’t be with us for this game and how long it’s going to be, we’re waiting on the results of the scans.
“Obviously he’s contracted to Bolton and we’ll see what happens when he goes back there.
“It becomes Bolton’s decision whether they want to keep him next season or not. He’s got a year left.”
Rovers are currently under a transfer embargo – but as Baptiste was an exisiting member of their squad when the punishment was inflicted upon them there may be scope for a deal to be done.
Bowyer believes he could have snatched Baptiste from under Wanderers’ noses back in 2013 when he was available on a free transfer from Blackpool.
“I think the initial time we had just got appointed and he was at Bolton signing. We were just probably a day too late on that one.
“He’s very versatile, he has scored goals for us and it’s safe to say his best performances have certainly been at centre half for us.
“He’s been outstanding for us. He’s a good pro, a good lad, and his experience has been brilliant for the younger ones that he’s played with.”
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The Wanderers defender has been at hit since joining the club’s local rivals on loan last summer but Neil Lennon has not ruled out bringing him back next season to see out the remaining year of his contract.
Should he decide to cash in, however, he would have a willing buyer in Bowyer – who has been impressed with the former Blackpool man this season, not least in their midweek FA Cup quarter final replay against Liverpool.
“I’d love to keep him,” Bowyer said. “You only have to see what he was prepared to do for us on Wednesday night, it just shows you the type of character that he is.
“Alex played probably 20 or 25 minutes with a pulled hamstring. I can’t speak highly enough of him, he just kept coming over and getting it strapped, and we had to drag him off in the end.
“It’s disappointing that he won’t be with us for this game and how long it’s going to be, we’re waiting on the results of the scans.
“Obviously he’s contracted to Bolton and we’ll see what happens when he goes back there.
“It becomes Bolton’s decision whether they want to keep him next season or not. He’s got a year left.”
Rovers are currently under a transfer embargo – but as Baptiste was an exisiting member of their squad when the punishment was inflicted upon them there may be scope for a deal to be done.
Bowyer believes he could have snatched Baptiste from under Wanderers’ noses back in 2013 when he was available on a free transfer from Blackpool.
“I think the initial time we had just got appointed and he was at Bolton signing. We were just probably a day too late on that one.
“He’s very versatile, he has scored goals for us and it’s safe to say his best performances have certainly been at centre half for us.
“He’s been outstanding for us. He’s a good pro, a good lad, and his experience has been brilliant for the younger ones that he’s played with.”
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