Liverpool and Everton have been linked with Blackburn Rovers’ John Buckley.
Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray predicts John Buckley will become a top player at Ewood Park despite reported interest from Everton and Liverpool, the Lancashire Telegraph reports.
“I know what he can do. He’s going to be a good footballer for our club. He plays forward and how I want the team to play,” Mowbray explained following John Buckley’s debut for the club.
“I was happy to give him his debut. It was disappointing with the result on his debut but he will have been delighted to get on the pitch. I know he has a big future.”
Buckley signed a new long-term deal at Blackburn earlier in the campaign, but that has not stopped several Premier League sides from considering a summer move for him.
According to Teamtalk, Merseyside duo Everton and Liverpool are among those making regular checks on him, while fellow Premier League side Manchester United are also accredited with an interest in the Blackburn youngster.
Buckley came through the youth ranks at Ewood Park and is one of several young players impressing for the Blackburn U23 side.
Despite playing 80 minutes for Blackburn U23s against Stoke City on Friday night, Mowbray decided to include him in the squad for the trip to Sheffield Wednesday and brought him off the bench with about 20 minutes to go.
Predominantly a central midfielder, Buckley has attacking instincts and he could be seen as a potential long-term replacement for Bradley Dack in that number 10 role.
Dack, 25, is another player reportedly attracting Premier League interest, with the Sun claiming in January how Brighton and Hove Albion were weighing up a potential big-money move for him.
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