Rekik moves to Blackburn

Per BBC Sport:

Blackburn Rovers have signed Manchester City defender Karim Rekik on loan for the remainder of the season.

The 18-year-old made his Premier League debut for City in December, starting the 1-0 win against Reading.

Last season, he played eight games under Rovers boss Michael Appleton in a loan spell at Portsmouth.

This is potentially a good move for Rekik. Blackburn, despite off-field ownership issues, appear to have been steadied of late since the appointment of Michael Appleton and they are ell placed for a run at the playoffs (and still in the FA Cup).

Rekik is one of the touted crop of prospects coming through along with Denis Suarez, Marco Lopes, Abdul Rezak and John Guidetti but - and despite his youth - is probably best placed to be the first to really break through. If he can get some significant minutes behind him at Blackburn over the dozen or so games remaining then it will provide further evidence of precisely how close he is to breaking through to the squad on a regular basis.

Appleton certainly feels he'll challenge for a place and predicts a bright future ahead:

"He played for me in the Championship last season at Portsmouth. Although he is a boy in terms of age, he is physically a man. He is built like a brick out house.

"He is a big lad with a lot of quality. I am sure he is going to be in the Premier League for Manchester City for years."

One to watch over the remainder of the season.