Blackburn Rovers forward Ben Brereton Diaz may yet reject interest from Everton in a late-window transfer as he has now received pre-contract offers from Celta Vigo and OGC Nice.
Everton, Fulham most likely to target Ben Brereton Diaz amid Aston Villa links
According to the Daily Mail, Everton and Fulham are the most likely sides to seek a deal for Ben Brereton Diaz before Thursday’s deadline, having expressed the strongest interest in a late pursuit to sign the highly sought-after Blackburn Rovers forward in the next 24 hours.
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Brereton Diaz is in-demand throughout the Premier League and Spain’s La Liga for his form at Ewood Park and on the international scene for Chile. Valencia and Villarreal are tracking his situation in Lancashire, but face competition from Celta Vigo and in Ligue 1’s OGC Nice.
Celta Vigo and Nice have already contacted Brereton Diaz’s agent to debate a possible pre-contract for the forward. The 23-year-old is in the final year of his contract with Blackburn, and can agree to join a foreign team in a free transfer at the end of the term from January.
Several Premier League sides hope to avoid missing out on Brereton Diaz and may advance their interest before Thursday’s deadline. Everton and Fulham are seen as the most likely teams to make last-gasp offers, having shown the strongest interest in his signature so far.
The Goodison Park board are in awe of what Brereton Diaz can offer under Frank Lampard with a transfer to Merseyside. The Toffees love his work ethic, the energy he shows across the attack and the goals the 14-cap international would add, so are encouraging his arrival.
Everton among packed-out Premier League pursuit of Ewood Park dynamo
As many as five Premier League teams could approach Blackburn before the summer sales slam shut to rival the emerging European interest in Brereton Diaz, including Everton. Alan Nixon also cites Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Southampton and West Ham United.
Multiple top-flight teams in England and abroad admire the Stoke-on-Trent native, having hit 22 goals and three assists over 37 Championship appearances last season. He has also already provided two goals and one assist through his first six games of the new campaign.
Additionally, Brereton Diaz – who his ex-Rovers boss Tony Mowbray called ‘extraordinary’ – delivers when fielded on the wing or through the centre. So, the 6ft dynamo can provide a possible suitor a versatile, and still young, attacking threat if signed this summer or next.
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