9th Aug, 2021 | 10:49am

Sources: Brentford plot move for Blackburn Rovers star Rothwell

Brentford are plotting a move for Blackburn Rovers midfielder Joe Rothwell, Football Insider has learned.

The 26-year-old has entered the final year of his contract at Ewood Park to put his future in major doubt.

A Brentford source has told Football Insider that Rothwell is on the club’s radar as they eye a potential cut-price deal.

Rovers could be forced to cash in rather than allow the creative midfielder to leave for nothing next year.

Rothwell came through the ranks at Manchester United and fits the bill for the player profile Premier League new boys Brentford are seeking.

He is one of nine Rovers players whose contract expires in 2022 alongside the likes of Adam Armstrong, Ben Brereton Diaz and Thomas Kaminski.

Rothwell was named man of the match in Blackburn’s 2-1 season-opening win against Swansea City last Saturday.

He is accomplished as either a central or attacking midfielder and has also featured on both wings on occasion.

The midfielder has turned out 119 times for Tony Mowbray’s side since signing from Oxford United in 2018.

Those appearances have yielded eight goals and eight assists, taking his career tally to 22 goals and 25 assists in 258 matches.

Brentford have already added to their ranks in midfield with the additions of Frank Onyeka and Myles Pear-Harris this summer.

They have also signed towering centre-back Kristoffer Ajer from Celtic ahead of their first top-flight season since the 1940s.

Blackburn meanwhile are yet to add to their squad following their 15th-place finish in the second tier in 2020-21.

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