Sources: Villarreal in advanced talks to sign Ben Brereton Diaz in blow to Leeds United and West Ham
Villarreal are in advanced talks to sign Blackburn Rovers star Ben Brereton Diaz in a blow to West Ham and his other English suitors, sources have told Football Insider.
The Spanish club are working on a deal to land the Chilean on a permanent deal and are confident of finalising terms after discussions on Wednesday.
Villarreal could sign Diaz on a pre-contract ahead of the summer but have also discussed the possibility of taking him this month for around £8million.
Should the La Liga club now, as expected win the race for Diaz, it will be a blow to the Premier League clubs trailing him, including West Ham and Leeds.
Scouts from both English top-flight outfits have watched the versatile forward in many matches this season ahead of his Rovers contract expiring in the summer.
Irons manager David Moyes is believed to be a huge admirer of the Chile international and had made it clear to the club’s recruitment team he is interested in luring the forward in January.
Everton and Fulham also submitted offers for Diaz at the end of the summer but Blackburn rejected them.
Football Insider revealed in October (20 October) that Blackburn were ready to listen to offers for Diaz in January rather than risk allowing him to leave for free next summer, when his contract expires.
Diaz is seen as a versatile attacker who can thrive in multiple positions, including at centre-forward, on both flanks and behind the striker.
He has scored nine goals and supplied four assists from 26 Championship matches this season, all of which have been starts.
It is believed he is open to the possibility of moving abroad and playing in Spain.
Diaz has made it clear he will not sign a new Blackburn contract after rebuffing their multiple attempts to extend his deal beyond the summer of 2023.
In other news, Arsenal to complete Declan Rice signing as contact made – ‘100%’.