What Jeff Stelling has said about Barnsley FC's Reyes Cleary amid Blackburn Rovers transfer interest | OneFootball

The former Soccer Saturday host and Hartlepool United president has high hopes for the Barnsley winger

Former Hartlepool United president and Soccer Saturday host Jeff Stelling has sung the praises of Barnsley winger Reyes Cleary following Barnsley's FA Cup exit at Liverpool.

The 21-year-old wideman was able to showcase his talents on one of the biggest stages of all at Anfield on Monday night, and didn't waste that opportunity, as he looked lively and dangerous, and had plenty of neutral fans feeling that it may not be long until he's facing sides like Liverpool regularly in the Premier League, having scooped the Player of the Match award in spite of the Tykes' eventual 4-1 defeat.

Blackburn Rovers have been interested in helping bridge that gap between the top flight and the third tier for Cleary, but they had their opening bid of around £1 million plus add-ons knocked back by Barnsley.

The Tykes' valuation of around £5 million shocked Blackburn, according to Alan Nixon, but after his display against the reigning Premier League champions, they can now clearly see why the South Yorkshire side are demanding that much.

For someone like Jeff Stelling, though, who saw his potential even before he made the move to Oakwell, it's come as no surprise at all.

Jeff Stelling hopes Reyes Cleary will "go right to the top"

After dominating in the youth teams at West Brom, Cleary's stock decreased massively last season in a couple of loan spells.

He played just 86 minutes of League Two football during the opening half of the campaign at Walsall, and thus was recalled this time last year. However, because he'd already played in the EFL Cup that season for the Baggies, a second loan move had to be made below the EFL.

Therefore, he spent the latter half of last term at Hartlepool in the National League, where he scored six goals and assisted twice in 20 league games.

From the outside, someone who was plying their trade in the fifth tier as recently as May last year's emergence into a star with Premier League potential may have come out of the blue.

However, Jeff Stelling, who was honorary president at Hartlepool for nearly a decade until he resigned last May, knows how hard Cleary has worked to get to this point and feels that he deserves every bit of praise he is receiving currently.

Speaking on X, the broadcasting legend said, "If you met him, his attitude is unbelievable. Humble, thankful, brilliant with the fans/kids. Hope he goes right to the top."

It's a very impressive endorsement, and one that no doubt will carry a lot of weight in certain footballing circles.

There's ultimately no doubt that, if the 21-year-old does end up making it to the top of the food chain, those involved at Hartlepool last season won't be surprised, and after Monday's performance at Anfield, not many outside of the North-East non-league side will be, either.

Blackburn Rovers will be frustrated at Reyes Cleary's Liverpool performance - it will only increase his value

Blackburn tried to jump the gun with Cleary, tabling a 'substantial six-figure bid' before the January window even opened to try and bring him to Ewood Park immediately.

Evidently, Rovers saw the talents he possessed and wanted to snap him up before anyone else thought to join them in the race to sign the 21-year-old.

Unfortunately for Blackburn, Barnsley weren't prepared to accept anything short of £5 million, and after he proved that he could be a match for some of the suggested elite full-backs in the country, that value is only going to increase, and teams with higher budgets than Valerien Ismael's side will be swooping in, too.

It was already looking improbable for a move to be made to Ewood Park this January, and now it looks nigh-on impossible.

There's no doubt that the impressive wideman would have been a cut above the rest in the Championship, but now he's the worst-kept secret after the FA Cup tie, and he may be out of Blackburn's reach.