The Championship will include multiple derbies and rivalries next season, but the Lancashire quintet appears to have slipped under the radar.
Next season, Burnley, Blackburn Rovers, Preston North End, and Bolton Wanderers will compete in a series of Lancashire derby matches.
While Blackburn and Preston clashed last season, they’ve been joined by two more local rivals from opposite ends of the football pyramid: Burnley from the Premier League and Bolton from League One.
Everyone is aware of the history between Burnley and Blackburn, but all four will be looking to claim bragging rights during the season, and it will be interesting to see the little mini-league between all four come May, after all of the games have been played.
Meanwhile, Football League World examines who Capology believes is the highest-paid player at each of the four clubs and ranks them according to skill.
4Ethan Erhahon – Bolton Wanderers
Bolton’s current highest-paid player, according to Capology, is Ethan Erhahon, whom the Trotters recruited from Lincoln City last summer on a £10,000-per-week contract.
The Scotsman was a high-profile signing, having thrived at Sincil Bank after leaving St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership, and he demonstrated this during his rookie season at the Toughsheet Stadium.
The defensive midfielder prospered in a Bolton side that dominated possession as one of League One’s biggest clubs, but it will be intriguing to watch how he adjusts to the Championship for the first time in his career.
However, due to his lack of second-tier experience, he ranks last on this ranking.
3Ali McCann – Preston North End
Capology reports that Preston has eight players that earn £15,000 each week. However, Ali McCann tops the list.
The 26-year-old is as reliable a midfielder as you can find in the second division, and he has not missed a beat at Deepdale in his five seasons there.
2Todd Cantwell – Blackburn Rovers
Todd Cantwell is Blackburn’s highest-paid player by far, earning an estimated £30,000 a week, more than doubling the wages of anyone else at Ewood Park.
It’s also arguably merited, given the Rovers captain’s successful career and quality from his stint at Norwich City and his only full season at Rangers. The 28-year-old has a significant influence at Blackburn, serving as club captain and the team’s primary creative outlet.
According to Fotmob, despite missing 18 games last season, he placed in the top 5% of Championship offensive midfielders for successful passes and long passes, as well as the top 10% for touches and fouls earned.
The talent is undeniable, and how Blackburn is seen in the coming season will be heavily influenced by Cantwell’s ability to stay healthy and in high form for long periods of time.
1Kyle Walker – Burnley
However, in terms of skill, Burnley’s Kyle Walker, who is projected to earn £75,000 per week at Turf Moor, leads their Lancashire counterparts.
Even at 36, many thought Walker’s one-year spell with the Clarets would come to an end once they were demoted and had to play Championship football again, but as things stand, the six-time Premier League winner appears to be staying put.
Walker has not played Championship football since the 2010/11 season, when he was a loanee at QPR from Tottenham Hotspur.
All of the top-flight expertise he has accumulated over the last 15 years could be crucial for a Burnley squad hoping to extend their stay in the second tier by just one year.
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