Arsenal plotting transfer to sign Blackburn Rovers striker after contract stalemate | OneFootball

The 17-year-old forward could move to the Premier League giants this month after rejecting a professional contract at Ewood Park

Blackburn Rovers could be set to lose 17-year-old striker Igor Tyjon this January, with Premier League leaders Arsenal still interested in bringing in the promising frontman.

The Athletic's transfer deal sheet on January 6 has confirmed that Arsenal are still interested in securing the services of Tyjon, who is yet to sign his first professional contract.

The Blackburn academy product has been of interest to plenty of Premier League sides over the past couple of years, and Mikel Arteta's side had an approach knocked back in the summer.

However, with the 17-year-old's scholarship deal running out in the summer, and him telling Valerien Ismael that he won't sign a professional contract at Ewood Park, a January move presents the last chance for Blackburn to receive a fee for his services, rather than a compensation package in the summer.

Arsenal could make January swoop for Igor Tyjon

The Athletic have reported that Arsenal will be in for a quiet January transfer window, after the current top-flight table toppers spent more than £250 million in the summer.

However, that doesn't mean that the Gunners won't be completely inactive in the window this month, with young talents targeted to strengthen an already elite academy set up in North London.

Top of that list seems to be Tyjon, whom the Athletic believe Arsenal still hold interest in, after their approaches in the summer were knocked back by the Championship outfit.

Blackburn felt that the 17-year-old could be a big part of their future, including the 2008-born star in their first-team plans during pre-season this past summer, but Tyjon has yet to see the pitch in the second tier this term.

Therefore, Tyjon told Rovers that he has no intentions of signing a professional contract at the club, meaning that he will be leaving the club either at the end of the season when his two-year scholarship expires, or perhaps this month if Arsenal come in for him once again.

The Lancashire Telegraph reported that the best chance for Blackburn to secure "a reflective fee" would be to make a sale this month. If not, they'll just receive compensation due to his age when he eventually agrees to terms elsewhere in the summer.

Igor Tyjon looks to have played his last game for Blackburn Rovers

Given the obvious talent of Tyjon, there'll be some internal frustration that the 17-year-old has rejected a professional deal and looks to be moving on for a fraction of what he could be worth in a couple of years.

Rovers are currently enduring a small availability crisis up front, with Andri Gudjohnsen out and Makhtar Gueye unfavoured.

Even with all that, Valerien Ismael opted for midfielder Moussa Baradji up front next to Yuki Ohashi in their recent game against Charlton Athletic, with Tjyon being left on the bench.

Baradji did repay the manager's faith with a brace, but the fact that a midfielder got in ahead of an exciting young prospect likely means that the writing is on the wall for the 17-year-old at Ewood Park.

With this month presenting the final chance to receive a decent fee for his services, Rovers may push harder for a deal to be made, and Arsenal looks ready to be the side to profit from it.