Report: Southampton met with problem after bid for £20m gem, scored three hat-tricks in 20/21

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Blackburn Rovers have rejected an opening bid from Southampton for their top-scorer Adam Armstrong, according to the Lancashire Telegraph.

The Saints are the first club to step forward with an offer for the 24-year-old, and are the only side to show concrete interest. But Rovers batted away the approach, and set Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side a strong impasse to strike any deal.

Blackburn are keen to hold out on receiving £20m for Armstrong for as long as possible, despite the striker entering the final year of his current deal. The Ewood Park outfit have also tabled a new contract, but the forward has not yet put pen to paper.

Blackburn’s valuation has led to a stand-off with Southampton and their rival suitors for Armstrong. All clubs keen on the centre-forward are loath to pay £20m for someone they could sign for free in 2022.

But Rovers need a high price for Armstrong with Newcastle owed 40% of any profit on the £1.75m they paid in 2018. The clause has proven to be another problem for any side looking to sign the West Denton-born frontman this summer.

Yet Southampton are the first to officially approach Blackburn to discuss signing Armstrong. Their pursuit comes irrespective of the future of Danny Ings, who The Athletic claim turned down a new contract. The 28-year-old will be a free agent in 2022, but could stay until then.

That may see Ings partnered by Armstrong and Che Adams, then, if Southampton return to Blackburn with a bigger offer. The Saints were already considered the leaders in the race for the Championship stalwart over Norwich, per The Telegraph, who claimed a £10m price tag.

Southampton can sign a hat-trick hero in Blackburn star Armstrong

It remains to be seen how close to Blackburn’s valuation Southampton came with their opening offer for Armstrong. The Saints going close could well see them land Hasenhuttl a hat-trick hero this summer.

Armstrong flourished in a free-roaming role at Ewood Park last season, leading to 29 goals in all competitions. Of his strikes, 28 came in the Championship – only Ivan Toney scored more as he fired Brentford to promotion with 31, excluding the play-offs.

But while Toney topped the second-tier goal chart, Blackburn gem and Southampton target Armstrong led it for hat-tricks with three. He scoured trebles against Wycombe Wanderers, Huddersfield Town and Birmingham City, while no other Championship player got two.