West Ham United are tracking Blackburn Rovers’ Ben Brereton Diaz ahead of the January transfer window in case David Moyes targets a striker, according to the Evening Standard.
Brereton Diaz has enjoyed a sensational season so far in the Championship to help fire the Ewood Park natives into promotion contention. Blackburn will spend Christmas third in the standings and just a point below the automatic places Fulham and Bournemouth occupy.
Rovers’ 22-year-old forward has played a vital role in their successes under Tony Mowbray this term. Brereton Diaz has scored 19 goals over 23 appearances, including nine in his last nine games. Only Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic has outscored the Chilean with 22 in 22.
Blackburn have needed Brereton Diaz to step this season after selling Adam Armstrong to Southampton in August. The £15m departure ended the 2020/21 campaign as the second-top scorer in the second-tier with 28 goals in 40 games. Only Ivan Toney (33) scored more.
West Ham are now paying close attention on Brereton Diaz, with the Hammers holding an interest in a possible transfer. But Moyes is yet to decide whether he will green light a bid.
West Ham face PL competition for Brereton Diaz transfer
West Ham have remained in the market for a new striker having still yet replaced Sebastien Haller. The Ivory Coast star left the London Stadium in January after 18-months in England, with the Irons taking a £25m hit on the £45m they paid Eintracht Frankfurt to sell to Ajax.
Moyes is loath to spend what funds he has available for a centre-forward without believing they are the right option. Instead, he will only back bids if the target can make an impact.
The Scot’s careful consideration for striker transfers could risk West Ham missing out on a deal with Blackburn for Brereton Diaz, however, as the Chile forward has other options.
The Mirror report Brighton are close to agreeing terms to sign the Stoke-born attacker. The Sun also report Leeds United are keen, but face a £25m asking price to sign him in January.
Mowbray knew Brereton Diaz could achieve big things at Blackburn
Blackburn are not under pressure to sell West Ham, Brighton and Leeds target Brereton Diaz in the January transfer window. While his £6.5k-a-week contract expires in June, the Ewood Park outfit hold an option to extend his terms by one-year.
There is no doubt Rovers will trigger their option if they do not sell Brereton Diaz first. Mowbray also had little doubt in seeing the Chilean become a big part of his plans.
“Brereton, with the ball at his feet, is an extraordinary talent,” Mowbray said in February of last year, via LancsLive. “He’s a wonderful footballer who can dribble with both feet, take people out of the game. He’s still a boy, but he has wonderful ability and wonderful talent.”
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