Blackburn Rovers are unwilling to pay Southampton's asking price for striker Michael Obafemi, a report from a print edition of The Sun (01/08, p59) has claimed.

Obafemi has already been linked with a move to Ewood Park this summer, with reports claiming that Southampton had offered the striker plus cash for the signing of Blackburn's Adam Armstrong.

However, while Rovers have seemingly dismissed that suggestion, it now seems there is interest in the 21-year-old, although Southampton's demands are making a deal difficult to do for the Lancashire club.

According to this latest report, Blackburn are interested in signing Obafemi, but not at the price Southampton are demanding.

It is thought that the Saints want £6million for Obafemi, but that Blackburn do not rate him at that price.

As things stand, there is just a year remaining on Obafemi's contract, meaning Southampton face a tribunal to decide the striker's valuation if he leave St Mary's this time next year.

The Verdict

I'm not quite sure what Blackburn are playing at here.

They have got something that Southampton want in Adam Armstrong, and Southampton have got something that Blackburn want in Michael Obafemi.

As a result, it would surely make sense to look into a swap deal between the two players here, then Rovers avoid the risk of losing Armstrong for nothing when his contract expires at the end of next season.

Indeed, with Tony Mowbray hinting Blackburn are looking at only signing loans this summer - which isn't a positive long-term outlook after so many exits at the end of last season - doing a deal here to at least secure one permanent player would surely be a boost for Blackburn.

Admittedly, Obafemi would of course have to agree to a move to Ewood Park for this move to happen, but given the circumstances, it seems bizarre that Blackburn are not looking to make a swap deal happen here.