Jon Dahl Tomasson ‘would love’ Ben Brereton to stay at Rovers – and says it will take ‘a very good amount’ of money to prise him away from Ewood Park in the remaining two weeks of the transfer window.

Brereton has started this season where he finished the last campaign, with two goals and an assist in his three appearances helping Rovers to a 100 per cent start.

His future has been the source of speculation for much of the year given both his goal record and also moving into the final year of his contract. Despite that, Brereton remains a Rovers player heading into the final two weeks of the window.

Tomasson says Rovers must be prepared should the 23-year-old leave before the September 1 deadline, but wants to see Brereton continuing to enjoy his football.

Asked about the decision-making process over Brereton’s future, Tomasson told the Lancashire Telegraph: “The owners are important in that decision-making and those who run the club on a daily basis, Steve (Waggott), Suhail (Pasha) and Gregg (Broughton) who are important in that.

“He’s a great player so we know that we’d need to get the right amount of money.

“I would love him to stay, I know that.

“The most important thing is if, if it should happen, and there’s still two weeks left, then the amount would have to be right and it would need to be a very good amount, because he’s a very good player.”

Rovers’ are focused on their preparations for Wednesday night’s trip to Reading, in which Brereton is expected to feature, amid reports of a bid from Ligue 1 club Nice.

Owners Venky’s had a firm stance in January that top scorer Brereton wouldn’t be sold.

They have taken a similar approach to interest in players in previous windows, but as with Adam Armstrong last summer, Brereton’s contractual situation weakens Rovers’ hand.

Asked if he had communicated his thoughts on the matter to the owners, Tomasson explained: “One of my first meetings with the club was about those things.

“Everyone knows how things are working.”

Alongside questions over Brereton’s future are what money would be made available to strengthen should he leave.

Director of football Gregg Broughton outlined after his arrival that Rovers had a ‘healthy budget’ that wasn’t reliant upon the sale of Brereton.

They have since made moves for Callum Brittain and Sam Szmodics on permanent deals, while Tyler Morton has arrived on loan.

Further strengthening is required, and Tomasson says Rovers must be ready to act should Brereton be sold.

“We should always have done our homework for if something happens, we should be prepared,” he said.

“I think we should expect that from the club that if it happens we need to have something prepared.”

The positive for Rovers is that Brereton has been unaffected by the speculation over his future.

His focus is on Rovers and his performances have shown, with goals in wins over Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion, accompanied by his usual high workrate.

And keen to not get bogged down in talk over his future, Tomasson said: “Let the boy enjoy it, he’s a very good boy, he’s enjoying himself, laughing all day, sometimes he’s fishing on his day off.

“Let the boy enjoy himself, he’s putting in great performances for the club.

“He’s playing well, scoring goals, so we’ll let him enjoy his football.”

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