An unnamed French side have entered the race to recruit former Blackburn Rovers full-back Ryan Nyambe, according to a report from the Lancashire Telegraph.

The 24-year-old was offered fresh terms by officials at Ewood Park to extend his stay beyond the summer - but rejected that in favour of a move elsewhere and this has generated interest from other clubs.

AFC Bournemouth, who were promoted back to the Premier League at the end of last term, were one side believed to be interested in luring him to the south coast after seeing him shine for Tony Mowbray during the 2021/22 campaign.

However, they moved to recruit Ryan Fredericks instead as they moved quickly to find a replacement for former loanee Ethan Laird and it's now thought the Cherries have cooled their interest in Nyambe.

Football League World understands that Championship outfit Middlesbrough were closing in on an agreement for 24-year-old, with a replacement for Djed Spence likely to be needed when he departs and Darnell Fisher still out injured at this point.

However, they could now face stiff competition from a side in France for his services, with both sides potentially keen to seal this deal with Rovers not due any compensation for his services.

Darragh Lenihan has already arrived at the Riverside Stadium following the expiration of his deal at Ewood Park, with Nyambe still potentially joining him if an agreement can be sealed.

The Verdict:

Considering they already have a solid option in Tommy Smith on trial already, they probably wouldn't be too gutted if they were to miss out on the 24-year-old.

However, he could potentially become a solid Premier League player in the future and this is why it would be a real coup if they were able to get this deal over the line, with Boro able to spend more on wages because of the fact they won't need to pay a penny for the right-sided player.

There are no guarantees Isaiah Jones will remain fit all season or in form, so having someone like Nyambe could boost their chances of winning promotion back to the top flight with this area unlikely to be a weak link for Boro if they bring him in.

For the player though, he could be sat on the bench if Jones remains available for Chris Wilder throughout the 2022/23 campaign, so he needs to think carefully about whether this potential move would be ideal for his career.

At his age, he should be looking to be playing as much football as possible and this is why it wouldn't be a surprise to see him reject a contract at the Riverside if he isn't given reassurances regarding his game time.