West Ham United are reportedly weighing up the prospect of signing 22-year-old Blackburn Rovers striker Ben Brereton Diaz in January.
According to a report by the Daily Mail, Ben Brereton Diaz is the subject of interest from West Ham United over a move in the January transfer window. The 22-year-old has become a highly-coveted striker this month on the back of a stunning campaign for Championship outfit Blackburn Rovers.
Ben Brereton Diaz spent his formative years at three clubs, starting at Manchester United before moving to Stoke City and finally graduating from the Nottingham Forest academy. However, the youngster could not stamp his authority at the City Ground and was loaned out to Blackburn Rovers in August 2018.
Following a promising loan spell, the Riversiders signed Brereton permanently in January 2019, and he has not looked back since. The 22-year-old has been particularly excellent in the ongoing campaign, scoring 20 goals in 25 Championship appearances. And the Chilean international’s exploits have duly been noted, with West Ham United keen on signing him.
The interest from West Ham is understandable, considering Sebastien Haller’s departure last year has left David Moyes with Michail Antonio as the only striker at his disposal. With Antonio a converted centre-forward, the extent of West Ham’s issue becomes amply clear.
The Hammers need to sign a striker in the January transfer window at all costs, with Mariano Diaz among the centre-forwards linked with them. And Ben Brereton Diaz is also a viable target for West Ham, with his experience in England likely to hold him in good stead if he joins the east London club.
However, West Ham will likely be met with strong resistance from Blackburn Rovers if they launch an offensive for the 22-year-old in the January transfer window. That is because the Riversiders are embroiled in a battle to secure automatic promotion from the Championship.
Bournemouth and Blackburn currently occupy the two automatic promotion berths, and if the table stays in its current form, they will be back in the Premier League. Meanwhile, Brereton has also been linked with Newcastle United and Leeds United, and it remains to be seen if his adventure with Blackburn will end this month or continue till the end of the season.
