Leeds United news: ‘Special’ Ben Brereton Diaz claim made after £13m update – pundit
Alex McLeish has tipped Blackburn Rovers striker Ben Brereton Diaz to thrive in the Premier League amid reported interest from Leeds United.
The former Scotland manager, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the 23-year-old has proven his “special movement” in the Championship and international stage.
As reported by the Sun (6 June), Leeds, Everton and Bournemouth, as well as a host of European sides, are all in the hunt to sign the striker this summer.
Rovers have reportedly set a £13million asking price on the hitman’s head after triggering a one-year contract extension.
His current terms now run until the summer of 2023.
McLeish suggested Brereton Diaz could prove himself capable in England’s top flight after netting 22 times during the 2021/22 campaign.
McLeish told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “This is where I really admire recruitment. If you’re at a lower level and you’re going in for players that can rise to an even bigger level, there are players out there. Definitely.
“They can play at a higher level, sometimes you can go and watch him and think: ‘Oh, I’m not sure about him.’
“But if they’re playing with better players and they’ve already got special movements, like a striker like Diaz in the box, then why can you not prove (yourself) somewhere else?
“It may be that he’s not in the penalty box as much as he was at Blackburn if he goes to Leeds, but he’s got an instinct there. They must be absolutely sure about that, positive about that, instead of trying to dip in and trying to compete with Liverpool, Man United, Man City, Chelsea.
“All these teams want to buy the biggest and best players in the world. Also, the best up-and-coming players in the world like Liverpool have done as well.”
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