Ben Brereton’s stock continues to rise leaving the club wanting to secure the long-term future of the Chile star.

Brereton has scored and claimed an assist for Chile in his two starts for the national team at the Copa America, with La Roja ensured of their place in the knockout stages ahead of tomorrow night’s game with Paraguay.

Brereton is into the final 12 months of his deal, along with top scorer Adam Armstrong and captain Darragh Lenihan, with the club keen for a breakthrough in talks with their first-team regulars. Steve Waggott has outlined negotiations have been tough, with Ryan Nyambe and Joe Rothwell both having the options in their deals triggered to ensure they remain under contract for 2021/22.

Interest in Brereton, according to reports in Chile, has come about following his performances for the national team, with Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa said to be one of those to have been impressed.

Brereton scored seven times last season, his most productive since signing from Nottingham Forest in 2018, and he’s become a key member of the side within the last year.

The 22-year-old signed from Nottingham Forest for a fee in the region of £6m, with Rovers starting to see the best of the attacker who scored the winner against Bolivia last week.

He will eye a third consecutive start for Chile tomorrow night and has been playing in a central role for Martin Lasarte’s side.

That prospect hasn’t been afforded to him at Rovers, used on the right and left flanks, and he admits the form of Adam Armstrong has rightly see him occupy that role.

Armstrong has received interest amid the possibility of a move away from Ewood Park, though Rovers are looking to try and tie him down to an extended contract.

“He’s a great lad, off the field and on the field. In training, the amount of goals he scores is a joke and people like me have to be looking at that and thinking ‘I need to do more of that’,” Brereton explained.

“He’s a great player, you’ve seen all season the goals he’s got consistently and he deserves everything he gets.

“He’s been brilliant.

“He’s had a great season, hopefully he stays, we need him next season, he’s irreplaceable with the goals he’s scored and his link-up play and we love having him around, he’s a great guy.”

Brereton won’t be part of the Rovers squad returning to pre-season training this weekend, his time with Chile to take him into July.

He will then be afforded some time off before joining in with the squad who play the first of their four scheduled pre-season friendlies at AFC Fylde on Saturday, July 10.

There is then a break to July 24 for the visit to Bradford City before games with Bielsa’s Leeds on July 28 and then Bolton Wanderers three days later.

As for Brereton, his focus will be on Chile and the prospect of starting a third game within a week.