Rotherham United are reportedly lining up a move for Blackpool striker Kylian Kouassi, a player familiar to Salford City fans from his loan spell last season. The potential transfer, reported this week by Football Lowdown, would see the 23-year-old reunite with Alex Bruce, who was Karl Robinson's assistant at Salford City and is now part of Rotherham's recruitment team.
Kouassi's future at Bloomfield Road appears uncertain following Jerry Yates's return to Blackpool on a season-long loan from Luton Town. Manager Ian Evatt is said to be willing to let the forward leave, alerting both Rotherham and Colchester United. Kouassi featured in all four of Blackpool's games prior to Yates's arrival, scoring in their EFL Cup first-round win over Grimsby Town.
Why is Kouassi a target for Rotherham?
Rotherham's search for striking options has been a key focus this summer. Before securing the free-agent signing of Paul Mullin, the club considered several forwards including Kyle Vassell and Bruce Anderson. They eventually signed Tom Bradshaw. The addition of Kouassi is seen as a way to round out their attacking unit, which currently employs a front-two system featuring Mullin and Fabio Tavares. A reported lack of depth behind that partnership makes another forward a priority.
Alex Bruce's recruitment has been important for Rotherham's squad building. His contacts, including from his time at Salford City, are being utilised. Kouassi could become the third former Salford player to join Rotherham this window, following Ashley Ossama and with a deal for Josh Austerfield also said to be progressing. Bruce is reportedly keen on signing a player he knows well from their shared time at the Peninsula Stadium.
What did Kouassi achieve at Salford City?
The striker spent the 2025/26 season on a season-long loan at Salford City, who were competing in League Two. During that spell, he made 31 appearances for the Ammies, contributing five combined goals and assists. That experience in the fourth tier gave him valuable match minutes and familiarity with the pressures of English football.
His development continued with a subsequent loan at Cambridge United last season, where he scored five goals in 19 games. Cambridge, under Neil Harris, won promotion back to League One at the first attempt. This blend of League Two experience and a taste of a promotion push adds to his profile as a potential squad player for a League One side like Rotherham.
How does this affect Salford City's season?
While the transfer directly involves a former loan player rather than a current squad member, it highlights the network and pathways connected to the club. Salford City's own campaign has begun with challenges, sitting 22nd in League Two with zero points from two games. They have scored just once while conceding four goals, leaving them with a minus-three goal difference and six points behind early leaders Barnet. You can follow their progress in the standings.
Adding firepower has been a consistent theme for clubs across the leagues. For Colchester United, the other club linked with Kouassi, the aim is to find support for Bradley Ihionvien, who was brought back on loan after two years at Peterborough United. The competition for the striker's signature shows his perceived value in the lower divisions.
What happens next for the transfer?
The next steps depend on negotiations between Rotherham and Blackpool. With the transfer window open, Rotherham will be eager to finalise their squad. Securing Kouassi would address a specific need for attacking cover as they prepare for their League One fixtures, which you can view on our fixtures page. For Salford City, the immediate focus is on improving their own results after a difficult start, with the team looking to their squad to find the form needed to climb the table.
