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'TON OF INTEREST
Everton, Leeds and Bournemouth in three-way transfer fight for Blackburn’s £13m Ben Brereton Diaz as LaLiga sides circle
PREMIER LEAGUE clubs could be beaten to Blackburn forward Ben Brereton Diaz with a host of Spanish sides ready to pounce.
The Chile international is a target for Leeds, Everton and Bournemouth but they are facing competition from Europe.
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With no side having made a formal offer for the Championship forward, LaLiga clubs are weighing up a move which could even catapult Brereton Diaz, 23, into the Champions League.
A number of clubs in Europe are considering a move with Sevilla, Real Betis and Valencia all having registered interest.
Sevilla have qualified for next season's Champions League while Real Betis, managed by ex-Manchester City and West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini, are into the Europa League.
Blackburn activated a clause to extend Brereton Diaz's contract by a year at the end of the season.
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But - with the prospect of losing their star striker for nothing in a year's time - they are ready to sell this summer.
The Championship club are looking for a fee of around £13million.
West Ham have also long tracked the forward, but manager David Moyes is keen to bring in a striker with top-level experience already under their belt.
Brighton have been linked with a move but it is not thought that they will pursue a deal.
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That leaves the likes of Leeds, who face the prospect of losing Raphinha to Barcelona, with a clearer run at Diaz.
But they could be pipped by the Spanish clubs offering European football.
Brereton Diaz scored 22 goals and laid on three assists for Tony Mowbray's side last season while he also has four goals in 11 appearances for Chile.
The forward was born in Stoke-on-Trent but qualifies for the South American side through his Chilean mother.
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