La Liga outfit Villarreal have set their sights on acquiring Blackburn Rovers talisman Ben Brereton Diaz in an end of season free transfer deal, according to a report from The Sun.

The Chile international has been a man in-demand since his fantastic scoring form last season, which saw him net 22 times for Rovers in the Championship in 2021-22, and he has continued that form into the current campaign by scoring 10 goals in 22 matches in all competitions.

Brereton's contract situation has been well-publicised, with the 23-year-old's deal expiring at the end of the current season, but Blackburn's owners the Venkys have been desperate to hold onto him and turned down offers in the summer from Nice, Everton and Fulham.

The forward stated this past week that he will 'hopefully' remain at Rovers for the rest of the season, but a new contract looks unlikely, even if he fires the club to the Premier League.

 

 

 

 

That is when Villarreal are ready to swoop, with the Spaniards wanting to land Brereton on a free in the summer - he can talk to overseas clubs in January for the following season if he does not extend his deal but all the noises are that he will wait until June to make a decision.

There is major interest from England for Brereton's services as well, with Football League World exclusively revealing that Manchester United scouts have been watching on, but West Ham United still lead the race as their London rivals Tottenham are also keen.

The Verdict

The Brereton saga is one that has been reported on a lot, but it is a story that isn't going away.

There is a long line of clubs just waiting to know what he is going to do next, with more and more big teams coming to Ewood Park to check him out.

Brereton has been fulfilling the potential he had as a teenager when acquired from Nottingham Forest, and at the age of 23 there is a feeling he is only going to get better.

With his international status in Chile though, a move to Spain would make sense and with Villarreal gunning to be in Europe once more, he could be their long-term Gerard Moreno replacement or partner.