Leyton Orient are considering a loan offer for Blackburn Rovers winger till the end of the season, according to recent reports.
According to Football Insider, Richie Wellens’ side has expressed interest in the 23-year-old and is now planning a formal approach to bring him to Brisbane Road.
Markanday is currently on loan at Chesterfield in League Two, but his strong form has piqued the interest of League One play-off hopes Leyton Orient, who are preparing to sign him.
The O’s are ninth in League One, four points behind the play-offs, and Wellens will be hoping that Markanday can make the difference in securing a spot in the top six.
Leyton Orient preparing loan offer for Dilan Markanday
Despite making 35 first-team appearances for Blackburn since coming from Tottenham in 2022, Markanday was loaned to newly promoted League Two club Chesterfield in the summer, and he has undoubtedly impressed in the fourth tier.
He’s become one of the first names on Paul Cook’s teamsheet, with seven goals and three assists in 24 games, and it’s no surprise that he’s garnering interest from higher up the league.
The former Tottenham Hotspur player signed a season-long loan with the Spireites, but Leyton Orient are hoping to lure him to East London this month with the promise of League One action.
Only Mansfield Town have less goals than the O’s in League One’s top 10, and Wellens hopes to overcome that deficit this month by signing Markanday.
It would be a significant blow to Chesterfield if Blackburn elected to move Markanday to Brisbane Road this month, but the prospect of regular League One action may be too tempting for both the player and John Eustace.
A move to Leyton Orient makes sense for all parties
It wasn’t surprising to see Markanday loaned away in the summer, but it was surprising to see him join a team so far down the EFL pyramid, especially given his quantity of appearances for Blackburn.
A move to Leyton Orient would allow him to play for a team in the League One play-offs, and you’d think Eustace would want all of his loan players to perform at the best level possible.
Markanday’s contract at Ewood Park expires this summer, and a move to Brisbane Road would put him in the shop window to earn a new contract with Blackburn or find a new club if he’s released at the end of the season.
The 23-year-old’s form at League Two level warrants a move further up the pyramid, and Wellens will be hoping he can convince the Championship outfit to send Markanday to Leyton Orient this month.
