Blackburn Rovers midfielder Joe Rothwell is attracting interest from Rangers as his contract at Ewood Park ticks down, Football League World understand. 

Rothwell is heading into the final months of his contract with Blackburn and the Lancashire side are yet to move to extend that beyond the end of 2021/22, after triggering their original 12-month option on his terms back in the summer.

That's got a host of clubs on alert at this moment in time.

Football League World have been told that Rangers have emerged as the leading club in the race to sign the 26-year-old in the near future.

However, Rangers aren't the only club known to be tracking Rothwell at this moment in time. Norwich City and Bournemouth are other clubs that have been making checks.

Southampton and Brentford, meanwhile, have been watching Rothwell for a length of time. As have Newcastle United, although the world's richest football club haven't followed through on that initial interest.

Rothwell, in the meantime, remains a key part of Tony Mowbray's side at Ewood Park.

He's featured on 12 occasions in the Championship this season, scoring once and registering four assists.