Rangers and Brentford in transfer battle to sign Blackburn Rovers star | OneFootball

Brentford and Rangers are interested in Blackburn Rovers' Ryan Alebiosu this summer but face European threat

Blackburn Rovers' summer transfer window is yet to get up and running, with the Lancashire-based outfit having brought in no new faces as yet from last season, and looking set to face a battle to keep hold of one of their star assets.

Indeed, Moussa Baradji's loan move from Swiss side Yverdon has been made a permanent one this summer, which remains Blackburn's only incoming as yet.

With the transfer window having been open for over a month now, Rovers' lack of action in the transfer market is bound to worry some supporters, especially with the need to replace the outgoing Ryan Hedges and Sondre Trondstad.

Now, those in the stands at Ewood Park will have another thing to worry about, as fresh interest in one of their star players has emerged.

Brentford and Rangers join the race for Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Alebiosu amid European competition

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Having only just survived relegation by the skin of their teeth last time around, Blackburn must treat last campaign as a real warning sign.

Michael O'Neill's rescue mission has given the club another year of Championship football to look forward to, and as Tony Mowbray returns to the helm at Ewood Park, they must ensure this opportunity isn't taken for granted.

Keeping hold of their best players and adding to them ought to be a priority, but Rovers face a battle to do just that, as both Brentford and Rangers have now joined the race for right-back Ryan Alebiosu this summer, according to Alan Nixon's Patreon.

Alebiosu, 24, joined Blackburn just last summer from Belgian side KV Kortrijk for around £500k after an excellent loan spell in Scotland with St Mirren, penning a three-year deal in Lancashire with the option for another year.

After one goal and five assists in 39 Championship games last season, Alebiosu announced himself as one of the league's best right-backs/right wing-backs, earning a call-up to the Nigerian national team, attracting attention from both Everton and Wolfsburg by January, and seeing a €5 million (£4.3 million) bid rejected from Genoa in the winter.

Pete O'Rourke reported just a couple of days ago that Italian and German clubs were tracking the 24-year-old this summer, as both Brentford and Rangers have now joined the race, with Nixon reporting that both clubs sent scouts to watch the defender in a pre-season game for Blackburn, only to find out he was missing due to a bug.

The Bees are looking for another option for Michael Kayode in that position in West London, whilst Rangers look for their long-term heir to James Tavernier, whilst Max Aarons has also returned to Bournemouth from his loan.

Should that extension option be triggered in his current contract, Alebiosu will be contracted to Blackburn until the summer of 2029, putting themselves in a seriously strong position to negotiate a fee.

He won't come cheap, and with interest in him rife, Blackburn will continue to bump up their requested fee, but will be hoping, by all accounts, to retain his services for at least another year.

Tony Mowbray must do everything in his power to retain Ryan Alebiosu's services at Blackburn Rovers this summer as interest intensifies

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Returning to the helm at Ewood Park, Mowbray knows exactly what the expectations are of the club's supporters, and knows exactly what it takes to steer a club to the right end of the Championship.

He will have already been acutely aware of most of the Blackburn squad prior to his return, but upon his arrival, will have almost certainly instantly recognised Alebiosu's prowess.

The 62-year-old will be as keen as anyone connected to the club to keep Alebiosu around, but should a bid too good to turn down arrive, he will have little say in his departure.

For now, the Nigerian remains in Lancashire, though with interest in the United Kingdom and abroad intensifying, the prospect of a departure continues to increase.