Leeds United have set their sights on a January move for Blackburn Rovers forward Ben Brereton Diaz, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Late approach

Brereton Diaz, hailed as a ‘beast’ by former Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray, has been a player on Leeds’ radar for a number of months, with speculation dating back to November 2021.

The Whites found themselves in desperate need of a forward on deadline day and appeared to make a last-minute approach for the Chile international. However, Leeds were unwilling to match Blackburn’s £15m valuation, with the 23-year-old out of contract at the end of the season.

The Latest: Transfer update

According to FI in a story on Saturday morning, Brereton Diaz has made it clear to those at Ewood Park that he won’t sign new terms.

Their report says that Leeds will explore a January deal, with the forward sharing the same agency as Brenden Aaronson.

The Verdict: Smart thinking?

The Whites loaned out Dan James to Fulham on deadline day and managed to bring in teenage forward Wilfried Gnonto from FC Zurich. Therefore, it seems as if Leeds could do with a more senior forward in the New Year, with Brereton Diaz able to play anywhere across the front three.

Described as the ‘face of Pepsi’ in Chile due to massive marketing campaigns following his international success, Brereton Diaz has been in fine form over the last 12 months and enjoyed his best spell in front of goal last season, netting 22 times in the Championship.

He appears to be a shrewd target, and should his contract situation remain the same, his £15m summer asking price may well plummet come January.