West Bromwich Albion got the ball rolling with regards to the potential summer overhaul that Steve Bruce addressed some weeks ago as the Baggies announced they had secured the signing of midfielder John Swift on a free transfer from Reading.

Now that the move has been confirmed, it seems as though a claim has emerged over the potential transfer of another Championship midfielder with whom the Midlands club have been linked recently.

What's the news?

During a recent online Q&A for The Athletic, Baggies reporter Steve Madeley was asked what the chances are of West Brom securing the signing of Joe Rothwell from Blackburn Rovers.

In response, the journalist said: "Rothwell is a player West Brom are aware of but I haven’t heard any suggestion that West Brom have made a move for him."

Earlier this month, journalist John Percy tweeted that West Brom are one of the clubs interested in signing the midfielder on a free transfer once his current deal at Ewood Park runs out at the end of next month.

While the Rovers ace still has a few weeks left before he officially becomes a free agent, it would still be bad news for Baggies fans to hear that there has not yet been an inkling over a potential move for him to The Hawthorns.

After working his way through Manchester United's youth ranks, the midfielder found himself at Blackburn in the summer of 2018 after a two-year spell with Oxford United.

During his time with Rovers, the 27-year-old made 161 appearances across all competitions, scoring 11 goals and delivering 18 assists along the way.

In what has turned out to be his final season at Ewood Park, Rothwell found the net three times and supplied 10 assists in 41 league appearances.

To highlight his attacking and creative prowess on the pitch, he not only ended the season with far more crosses (141) to his name than any other Blackburn player, he also posted a higher average of key passes per game (1.7) than any of his team-mates.

With the Baggies failing to score in 18 of their 46 Championship matches this season, having a creative midfielder like Rothwell could be just what Bruce needs to make his side a much deadlier force going forward.

Therefore, Madeley's downplaying of Albion's links with the 27-year-old will come as bad news for the club's supporters.

In other news: Bruce heading for big transfer calamity as West Brom eye move for £1.7m dud