Ben Brereton Diaz’s Blackburn Rovers situation becomes clearer amid Villarreal agreement rumours | OneFootball

Blackburn Rovers forward Ben Brereton Diaz has not penned a pre-contract agreement with Spanish outfit Villarreal, according to the club’s director of football Gregg Broughton.

Speculation was rife late on in the January transfer window that the Chile international forward had put pen-to-paper on a deal with the La Liga club to start from the 2023-24 season, with his contract at Ewood Park expiring in June after nearly five years with the club.

Brereton Diaz has scored nine times in 27 appearances for Blackburn this season in the Championship, although he has failed to score in his last seven league appearances – he has assisted three goals in that time though.

The former Nottingham Forest man has attracted considerable interest from the Premier League and overseas in the last 12 months following his explosive form in the 2021-22 campaign, where he netted 22 times in a breakout season.

Think you’re a hardcore Blackburn Rovers fan? Try score 20/20 on this quiz all about the club

1 of 20

When did Blackburn move into Ewood Park?

1881 1890 1885 1892

Broughton has now moved to clarify Brereton’s entire situation and has confirmed that there has been talks between the striker and Villarreal, but nothing has been signed yet, leaving all options open for the 23-year-old.

“We know exactly what Ben’s situation is, we know he’s had conversations with Villarreal,” Broughton revealed, via LancsLive.

“He’s been very open with us that he was having those conversations.

“We know that they put a very attractive offer on the table, but our understanding from both the player and from Villarreal is nothing is signed yet.

“Under UEFA regulations, they have to let us know immediately when a pre-contract is signed and our understanding is nothing is committed to yet.”

The Verdict

Whilst he is still yet to commit to any singular team just yet, it’s still unlikely that Brereton remains a Blackburn player beyond the 2022-23 season.

He’s not sparkled like he did last season – especially in the first half of the 2021-22 campaign – but that hasn’t put off the potential suitors, who see a versatile forward who still has his best years ahead of him.

Perhaps some were premature to suggest that he had agreed a deal with Villarreal, but there has clearly been talks and they can probably offer him a package healthy enough to tempt him to make the move overseas to a competitive league.

Some Rovers supporters may be holding on to slim hopes that he can be tempted to remain at Ewood Park, but this season will likely be Brereton Diaz’s last in a Blackburn shirt.