Peterborough, Oxford United and Bristol Rovers in Brentford transfer battle | OneFootball

Brentford winger Michael Olakigbe is reportedly set to leave the club on loan this month, with Oxford United, Bristol Rovers, and Peterborough United interested in having him join them before the transfer window slams shut.

The 19-year-old is a highly rated talent at the GTech Community Stadium, having joined the club from Fulham in 2022 after coming through the club's academy system.

The winger has been in and out of the Bees' side this season so far - mostly featuring as a substitute or in cup games - and will be looking for more first team football in the near future to help aid his development with a view to becoming a starter with Brentford in the years to come.

A number of clubs are interested in signing him, which could mean Olakigbe leaves the club on a temporary basis before the transfer window closes on Thursday.

Brentford's Olakigbe set to leave the club on loan

The Bees are happy to let winger Olakigbe leave the club on loan before the end of the transfer window, according to reports.

Journalist Darren Witcoop has reported on X that he is set to exit the club, with several EFL clubs interested in securing his signature.

League One sides Oxford United and Peterborough are reportedly set to go head-to-head over his signature, with both teams battling for promotion to the Championship this season, and likely hope the Premier League signing can help them edge out their rivals.

Meanwhile, Witcoop also notes that Bristol Rovers has inquired about signing the player. However, with them sitting at 11th in League One at the moment, the other clubs involved seem like a more attractive move for the 19-year-old.

Olakigbe is highly rated at Brentford and could be a future star

Brentford fought hard to sign Olakigbe from Fulham two years ago, seeing the potential in the 19-year-old to be a future star for the team.

They fought off several teams to sign the England under-20 international, with clubs like Newcastle United, Aston Villa, and Valencia all reportedly making offers to entice him into their clubs.

It was Brentford who won the race for his signature and he has been rewarded with a contract until 2028 as well as a number of Premier League appearances already in this campaign.

Olakigbe has been involved in the matchday squad numerous times this season, coming off the bench eight times in the league so far.

However, the bulk of those appearances have been minute-long cameos at the end of games, with the Englishman failing to get the opportunity to have an effect on the Bees' season at all.

His most notable appearance came in December's 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United, where he replaced Keane Lewis-Potter in the 66th minute, but failed to affect the scoreline.

A move away from the club may be the best thing for the forward at this moment in time as getting some regular experience in the men's game will be crucial to his development as a player.

If he impresses at one of the clubs interested in him, Olakigbe could force Brentford boss Thomas Frank to make a decision about his play time and find him a spot in the starting XI as early as next season.

The fact he signed an extension to stay at the club until 2028 shows that he sees his future at Brentford, although his chances in the first team may depend on his performances out on loan in League One.