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Blackburn Rovers forward Ben Brereton on Marcelo Bielsa's radar as Leeds United eye move
Leeds United are eyeing a move for Blackburn Rovers centre-forward Ben Brereton, according to RedGol.
The Chilean news outlet, verified on Twitter with over 70,000 followers, claims the English-born attacker, currently starring for Chile at the Copa America, has been on Marcelo Bielsa’s radar for two years after facing him in the Championship.
Leeds are now said to have registered their interest in the “pacy” [Blackburn Rovers club website] 22-year-old whose contract at Blackburn expires in 2022.
Easy link to make?
Brereton is born in England, plays his football in England, and now plays international football for Chile through his Chilean-born mother. Bielsa used to coach Chile between 2007-11.
El Loco achieved great success with La Roja, guiding them to the knockout-rounds of the 2010 World Cup before bowing out against international juggernauts Brazil.
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So is this just a case of trying to put two and two together?
Brereton was hot property a few years ago when he made his breakthrough for Nottingham Forest in 2017, before sealing a lucrative move to Blackburn.
But he struggled under the expectation a big-money move placed on him, and he scored just one Championship goal in each of his first two seasons for the Lancashire club.
However, he made real progress in the 2020/21 campaign, scoring seven goals and supplying four assists in 40 appearances, 10 of which were as a substitute.
Naturally a centre-forward, he has found success on the wings for Blackburn as Adam Armstrong has taken centre-stage.
20 of his appearances came as a left-forward [WhoScored], and that’s a position we could do with strengthening in, despite Jack Harrison’s impending permanent arrival.
Brereton is certainly a player on the rise, but we’re not sure he’s quite reached the level of Leeds United just yet, despite his international success recently.
In other Leeds United news, Bielsa has opened the door for this ex-Whites man to return to Elland Road.