Rumor Mill: Blackburn Rovers Keen On Midfielder Esteban Granero

The Blackburn Rovers, who barely kept their footing in England's Top Flight last season, are trying to keep from going down this season. Rovers boss Steve Kean is looking to save face and keep his job on the touchline. It's bad enough that Blackburn supporters have been calling for his head from almost the start of the season, and he's gone into ass saving mode.

One of the ways to do that, given that they don't have the kind of budget that clubs of Manchester United, Chelsea and the rest of the big four, is to be creative. One way to do this is to bring in Esteban Granero on loan -- and hope you can entice him to stay full time with the Rovers. For Real Madrid, Granero is a spare part in the midfield, even with Angel DiMaria out with a micro-tear of his thigh muscle.

Granero has only made four appearances with the first team this year, mostly coming on a sub though he did get a start in a Champions League tie -- the 3-0 win over Ajax. According to sources, he wants to move to England, and who can blame him--he's 24 and not getting much (if any) playing time in the capital city.

Granero also aspires to be called up to the national squad, and he's appeared on every Spanish national team up to the U21's. He has yet to get a call up to the senior squad, which as we all know, can be a very hard squad to get a crack at when you look at all the talent on the Spanish National team.

I think it would be a good thing to send him out on loan for now, and if Blackburn want to make his stay permenant at some point, we'll burn that bridge when we come to it. I think the loan is a great way for him to get solid first team playing time for the rest of the season, so he doesn't just rot on the bench.