Blackburn Rovers are yet to submit a second bid for Barnsley‘s Reyes Cleary, despite reports over the weekend.
The Ewood Park side are keen on making a move for the Tykes winger, having already lodged an offer earlier in the window that was quickly rebuffed following a £5 million valuation from the League One club.
Situation Cleared Up
According to Elliott Jackson in the Lancashire Telegraph, Blackburn are yet to submit a second bid for Cleary, but are still pressing ahead in their interest for the 21-year-old.
This comes following a report from Alan Nixon via his Patreon page yesterday, who had suggested that Valerien Ismael’s side had lodged an improved offer of £1.5 million plus extras, which was once again rejected.
It also stated that Bristol City were also interested in making a move, with the Robins back in the market following the sale of Anis Mehmeti to Ipswich Town last week.
Davis Keillor-Dunn has also been linked with a switch to Ashton Gate, opening up the possibility of a double swoop as Gerhard Struber’s team look to make back-to-back playoff appearances.
Hourihane has discussed the potential sales of Cleary and the former Mansfield Town striker to BBC Radio Sheffield, stating:
“Nothing over the weekend [in terms of offers], so we’re heading into this week hoping that all the players mentioned will be our players by the end of the window.
“You’ll have to ask the board that question [if sales are needed], we know the cycle we’re in, we know that everyone’s got a price.
“I’m hoping as a head coach that all the players will stay in this window.”
Barnsley Hold Firm
While a second bid is yet to come in for Reyes Cleary, it is near-inevitable that Blackburn Rovers will be back with another offer in the coming days.
The winger, who rightly earned plaudits with a man-of-the-match display in the FA Cup loss to Liverpool earlier this month, has become a key part of Barnsley’s future plans.
With the Tykes still in playoff contention due to their multiple games in hand on teams above them, Conor Hourihane’s hopes of promotion would likely collapse with a double sale of Cleary and Davis Keillor-Dunn this window.
Of course, there is a price which Barnsley are willing to settle for with both players, and while they may throw their shot away at promotion this season, letting the pair go will give them a lot of budget to play with going forward in their bid to get into the Championship.
Replacements have already been lined up seemingly, with Hourihane admitting admiration for Scott Banks amid speculation of his future after his loan at Blackpool ended.