Manager issues hands-off warning as Leeds pursue Ben Brereton-Diaz
Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray has issued a hands-off warning for Leeds United target Ben Brereton-Diaz during the January transfer window.
Brereton-Diaz has scored 20 Championship goals to help push Rovers into the playoff positions in third place, behind Fulham and Bournemouth in the automatic places.
His brilliant form has seen him linked with a move to Premier League clubs Leeds, West Ham and Newcastle in a potential £20m transfer.
But manager Mowbray has been speaking on a deal [TeamTalk] and has ruled out the club making a sale in January, instead challenging the striker to score 20 more goals this season.
“I’m hoping in this window we bring some young strikers in to the football club they will have to watch and understand how we expect them to play and one of them might grow into a top player as well,” he said.
“I need to clarify, we’re not looking to sell Ben Brereton, we need him to hopefully get 40 goals and help the team be successful this year.”
Needed
If there’s one thing Leeds need for the second half of the season, it’s goals.
Brereton-Diaz can provide those goals on current form, with only Aleksandar Mitrovic scoring more in the Championship this season.
Elland Road’s top scorer this season is Brazilian Raphinha, but with his future at the club far from certain right now they can’t rely on him and him alone to provide the goals.
Marcelo Bielsa likes well-rounded strikers and that’s Brereton-Diaz in a nutshell. He is strong, powerful, quick, good in the air and has proven to have a variety of finishes in his weaponry this season.
The news will come as a blow to Leeds, who will be keen to get their business done early to try and turn their season around as they face a relegation battle.
For Blackburn though, promotion is their aim and their best chance of succeeding is to keep the Chile international so their stance is no surprise.
In other Leeds news, ‘extraordinary’ striker deserves chance to shine at Elland Road with club ‘dependent’ on a sale.