Blackburn Rovers has stepped up their pursuit of Ben Brereton with an £8m bid for the Nottingham Forest prospect.

Tony Mowbray’s side saw a £6m approach rejected by their Sky Bet Championship rivals, but The Sun are reporting that Rovers are back in with an improved £8m bid to take the 19-year-old to Ewood Park.

Although the window for permanent transfers is now closed, Blackburn want Brereton on loan until January, with the deal then becoming permanent when the window reopens in 2019.

It’s thought that Forest value Brereton at £12m, despite the forward’s inconsistent form since breaking into the first-team at the City Ground.

Brereton’s debut came back in January 2017, with the teenager going on to make 57 first-team appearances for the Reds across all competitions.

In that time, Brereton has scored nine goals, with eight of those coming in the Championship.

Last season, in his 35 Championship appearances, Brereton scored five goals, including two in his final four appearances.

So far this season, Aitor Karanka hasn’t handed the forward a chance, with Hillal Soudani, Lewis Grabban and Daryl Murphy amongst the senior names battling for an attacking role in Forest’s new-look side.

The Verdict

Blackburn mean business and they seem determined to get Brereton on board.

This bid might fall beneath Forest’s valuation, but it will get them thinking about a potential sale.

With a fortnight of the transfer window remaining, this saga could run the distance.

Will Brereton make the move to Ewood Park? Let us know your thoughts!

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