West Ham United and Leeds United may have to cough up in excess of £30 million to sign Ben Brereton in January.
A recent report from TEAMtalk has offered an update on Ben Brereton’s transfer saga. The Blackburn Rovers forward has emerged as one of the most in-demand players in the Championship, owing to his brilliant form in front of goal. He is currently on the radars of various Premier League clubs, including Leeds United and West Ham United.
However, Blackburn have no intention of selling their star player in January. Although Brereton’s current deal at Ewood Park expires at the end of the season, the club is unlikely to entertain an offer unless it matches or even surpasses the £30 million mark. It is a similar figure Aston Villa paid for Ollie Watkins in 2020, and the Rovers believe they can extract the same out of Brereton.
The Chilean international, after all, has been one of the top performers in the Championship this season. He has netted as many as 20 goals in 25 matches – a major upgrade from the seven he scored last term. His contributions in front of goal have unsurprisingly helped Blackburn remain in contention for direct promotion to the Premier League, with the club only trailing table-toppers Bournemouth by three points.
The spring in Brereton’s steps this season originated in the summer when the striker made an excellent impression in Copa America. He garnered a goal and an assist in five matches, helping Chile reach the quarter-finals. Since making his debut for the South American nation in the summer, he has already won nine caps so far, netting three goals.
Brereton’s performances have not gone unnoticed, with West Ham considering a January move for the attacker. It appears the Chilean has emerged as an ideal option for David Moyes as he looks to add more depth to his goalscoring options. The club has been linked with a move for FC Barcelona superstar Memphis Depay, but Brereton could be a more realistic option.
The same goes for Leeds United, who are desperate to sign a backup for Patrick Bamford. While the Whites have been in the market for Giovanni Simeone, the Blackburn striker is certainly a more logical option given the success of Championship attackers in the Premier League in recent years, including Ollie Watkins and West Ham’s very own Said Benrahma.
However, with Blackburn Rovers holding out for a fee of £30 million, a January move to Premier League seems unlikely for Brereton. It does appear certain that the former Manchester United academy man will leave Ewood Park in the summer, though, with both Leeds and West Ham likely to re-enter the market for the star striker.