Blackburn Rovers left shocked by £5m Barnsley FC transfer demand | OneFootball

Barnsley have put a huge price on the young forward, who's had a promising first half to the season in League One at Oakwell.

Blackburn Rovers have been shocked by the high price tag that Barnsley have put on young forward Reyes Cleary, who is of interest to the Ewood Park club.

With just two league positions and three points separating them from the Championship relegation places, it's clear that Blackburn Rovers will be looking to make changes to their personnel during the summer transfer window.

But their pursuit of one young forward may have already run into a brick wall after their valuation of the young Barnsley forward Reyes Cleary was dwarfed by the price-tag put on the young forward's head by his current club.

Blackburn rocked by £5 million Barnsley valuation for Reyes Clearly

Journalist Alan Nixon reports on his Patreon that Blackburn's interest in Reyes Cleary could have taken a huge knock this morning, with Barnsley's valuation of the player being a massive £5 million. Nixon reports that "Rovers have offered around £1 million plus extras for the teenager who has had a breakthrough season in League One."

He confirms that this difference in valuations for the 20-year-old means that any move is now in doubt, even though "Blackburn have cash for a couple of forwards", and he also confirms that Rovers are "keen on the potential of Cleary but only at a sensible price."

Reyes Cleary has been a bright spot in an otherwise underwhelming 2025-26 so far for Barnsley

With five goals and six assists from 17 appearances for Barnsley so far this season, Reyes Cleary has been one of the breakout stars in an otherwise underwhelming season so far for his new club after signing from West Bromwich Albion during the summer. He had previously rejected a new contract by West Bromwich Albion.

Cleary has had an eventful first half of the season, earning headlines after scoring from 60 yards in their 2-2 draw at Bradford City in October.

He ended November as the EFL's Young Player of the Month for League One. Barnsley, meanwhile, are in 16th place in the table following a run of just one win in their last seven matches.

And Barnsley are in a position in which they can attach a high value to the player should they not wish to sell, having only tied the player down to a contract during the summer.

Cleary is under contract at Oakwell until 2028 and the club have an option to extend his contract for a further year beyond that.

With their initial bid coming right at the start of the window, it's possible that Blackburn Rovers could come back with a revised bid later in the month, but such is the gulf between the valuations of the two clubs for this young player that Blackburn may look elsewhere as they look to secure their position in the Championship throughout the second half of the season.