The Ben Brereton rumour mill is in full swing as a host of clubs continue to be linked with a move for Rovers’ top scorer.

Rovers rejected the advances of clubs in the summer who came nowhere close to reaching the asking price of upwards of £20m.

Indeed, it wasn’t until late in the window when clubs such as Everton and Fulham made firm moves for the Chile international, but no bids exceeded £10m for the attacker who hit 22 goals in the Championship last season.

Brereton has continued his fine form, scoring an excellent effort in the 2-0 win over Sunderland in midweek which took him to eight for the season, the joint-most in the division.

The 23-year-old has started all 16 of Rovers’ Championship matches this season, and continues to be key man for both club and country.

Crystal Palace are the latest club to be linked with a potential January move for Brereton, who is also attracting interest from overseas, with AC Milan credited with interest.

Sevilla have been long-term admirers of Brereton, and the potential of a move overseas is one that has always felt realistic given his impressive performances on the international stage with Chile.

Links to Sevilla will only grow stronger after Jorge Sampaoli was named as manager earlier this month. Sampaoli spent four years in charge of the Chilean national team, having so managed at club level in the country, and is said to have sounded out contacts at La Roja about the forward.

The likelihood of Brereton leaving Rovers has been heightened by his contractual situation.

Rovers took up the one-year option in the deal he signed when joining from Nottingham Forest in 2018, last summer, meaning Brereton is under contract at the club until June 2023.

Clubs outside of the UK will be able to speak with Brereton in January about a pre-contract agreement, though that isn’t a possible open to Premier League clubs.

Rovers director of football Gregg Broughton outlined that the club would be holding further talks with Brereton and his representatives about extending his deal, but also to gauge what their long-term plans were.

Brereton’s professionalism throughout the continued talk over his future has been praised, with him again playing down any plans to leave when pressed by Sky Sports after his man-of-the-match performance against Sunderland.

Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph earlier this month, he said: “Everyone was asking questions, but I want to focus on football.

“I’m playing for Rovers, I’ve got a Rovers shirt on, I love playing football.

“I just want to be out there, playing for Rovers with a smile on my face and winning for the club.

“I’ve been here for four years, I love the club, and I’m happy to keep going out there and scoring goals for the team.

“I’m mates with everyone, they’re like my family, so it’s great to be part of.”

Nottingham Forest are due a sell-on percentage of any profit on the £6m deal that took Brereton to Ewood Park in 2018, should a January move be forthcoming.

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