Leeds United and West Ham United make a second approach for Ben Brereton Diaz, as Blackburn take a firm stance on their asking price.
According to AS Chile, Ben Brereton Diaz and his camp are frustrated by Blackburn’s demands for the player’s transfer. West Ham United and Leeds United are keen on the forward, but the Championship side’s €15 million asking price could pose problems.
Ben Brereton Diaz could have been a free agent this summer but decided to sign a one-year extension with Blackburn rovers in May. The idea was to allow the Championship side to recoup a reasonable fee from his sale, but his representatives are left frustrated by the club’s actions.
The report suggests Brereton Diaz’s camp are concerned with the forward’s potential move to a Premier League club, with West Ham United and Leeds United among those interested in the Chilean. Other sides, such as Everton and Wolves, wanted to sign him on a free transfer but have baulked at Blackburn’s €15 million asking fees.
Leeds and West Ham are also in the same boat, as they do not want to spend €15 million on a Championship forward with one year on his deal. However, Blackburn is firm on the asking price, showing no signs of reducing that figure.
Leeds have been interested in Brereton Diaz since Marcelo Bielsa’s time and have carried forward the intention to sign the player. They are actively seeking a replacement for Raphinha, who joined Barcelona, while they also need more firepower up top. It led them to ponder a cut-price deal for Brereton Diaz.
Similarly, West Ham have been keen on the forward, as David Moyes eyed the Chilean as a potential competitor for the centre-forward role. The Hammers and the Whites had made earlier approaches and hoped to see the asking price reduced as the window progressed.
Leeds and West Ham have now made a second approach for the striker but learned the €15 million asking price remains intact. As a result, they might switch their attention to alternative targets, leaving Brereton Diaz hanging. The player’s camp may seek to hold talks with Blackburn to come to a compromise on the situation.
For now, Brereton Diaz remains a Blackburn player, and a move to the Premier League could only materialise if the Championship club accepts a reduced price for the forward. West Ham and Leeds might have to wait a bit longer to understand the situation further and then make a firm decision on whether to make a formal offer for the Chilean.
