Man Utd send scouts to watch "extraordinary" Championship striker they let go as a youngster

Man Utd have reportedly sent scouts to watch Blackburn striker Ben Brereton Diaz ahead of the January transfer window.

Erik ten Hag has been keen to add another forward to his squad, particularly given the speculation surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo's future.

The likes of Patrik Schick, Moussa Dembele and Jonathan David have all, as per the Daily Mirror, been explored as options by United, who could make a move as early as January.

But with claims via the Manchester Evening News that the club are placing their focus more towards the summer transfer window, it may be a case of being patient for Red Devils keen to see their club add some more firepower.

But while the three names mentioned above would likely require a premium price to be paid, that would likely not be the case for Blackburn's Brereton Diaz.

In August, Ligue 1 side Nice placed a bid of €10 million for the striker, which was rejected by Rovers. The club's owners reportedly value the player at £20m.

But they have little room to maneouvre, given that the Chile international's contract ends this summer, meaning he could leave on a free transfer.

And United are reportedly keeping tabs on the striker.

Ben Brereton Diaz to Man Utd?

According to 90min, United scouts have been in attendance at matches involving the 23-year-old as they explore a potential move for the striker.

But they could face strong competition, with Tottenham, West Ham, Leeds, Sevilla and Ajax all credited with an interest in the player's services.

Brereton Diaz has been in good form for Jon Dahl Tomasson's side this season, scoring nine goals in 20 games. He is the joint top scorer in the Championship.

Blackburn are currently second in the division, with a promotion potentially affecting whether the forward stays or goes.

After moving to Lancashire from Nottingham Forest for £5 million in 2018, Brereton Diaz struggled to hit the ground running at Ewood Park, finding the net just twice in 40 appearances across his first two seasons.

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But the 2019/20 season saw signs of improvements, with seven goals in 40 games, before he exploded in the following campaign, smashing 22 goals in 37 appearances as Rovers' leading frontman.

His form led to then-Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray describing him as 'extraordinary'.

Now a fully-fledged international, Brereton Diaz's next step may be the Premier League, and potentially with the Red Devils, whose academy he departed back in 2013.