Aston Villa could hold the key to boosting the coffers at Ewood Park this summer, as Rovers keep a close eye on two sell-on clauses for former players.

Villa are keen to splash the cash in the summer window in a bid to stabilise themselves in the Premier League and have already moved for Brentford attacker Ollie Watkins in club record deal, worth around £28m.

They remain in the market for a forward, and the Daily Telegraph has reported that Bournemouth’s Josh King is on the radar of Dean Smith, with a £16m fee mooted.

King left for Rovers for the Cherries in 2015 and has scored 50 goals in 162 appearances, form which attracted the interest of his former club Manchester United in January.

The Norway international remains keen on a return to Old Trafford, should that interest be rekindled, which would see him team up with countryman Ole Gunnar Solksjaer.

But Villa seem to be leading the race for his services, with Rovers’ weekend opponents Bournemouth primed for a bid of £16m for King, having this week sold Callum Wilson to Newcastle United in a deal worth around £20m.

Rovers do have a sell-on clause for King, it can be confirmed, in the deal which took him to Bournemouth in the summer of 2015, the clubs eventually coming to an agreement over the transfer details in the following January.   

Although the details weren’t published, given a tribunal wasn’t required, it is understood Rovers would pocket a slice of any transfer fee when King does leave Bournemouth. Rovers will hope that is in this window, to get the best possible price, with the attacker a free agent next summer.

Meanwhile, The Athletic are also reporting that Villa are keen on Arsenal goalkeeper Emi Martinez who could leave the Emirates in a search for regular first-team football.

They have already seen a bid in the region of £10m knocked back, but a second is set to be made which would be closer to the £20m the Gunners reportedly want for the Argentine stopper who is yet to sign a new deal at the club.

His possible departure could then see the Gunners step up their interest in former Rovers stopper David Raya.

The deal which took Raya to Brentford from Rovers last summer was worth an initial £3m, but was heavily incentivised, and would have included a promotion bonus, which Rovers missed out on after Thomas Frank’s side were beaten in the play-off final.

But a sell-on clause in that deal could still bank Rovers some money in this window, with Arsenal reportedly keen on the 24-year-old should Martinez move.

Brentford won’t want to lose another key player, after the departure of Watkins and the expected exit of Said Benrahma, but could be powerless should the Gunners flex their financial muscle, even though Raya has another three years left on his contract.

Their west London rivals Tottenham reportedly showed an interest in Raya before their move for Joe Hart, but links with Arsenal are unsurprising given their goalkeeping coach, Spaniard Inaki Cana Pavon, previously worked at Brentford, and was instrumental in the move for Raya last summer.

Ifs, buts and maybes, but with the transfer window showing signs of gathering pace in the Premier League, Rovers will be keeping a watchful eye on proceedings.