Blackburn Rovers keen on prolific striker but face Burnley & Wolves transfer competition | OneFootball

Blackburn Rovers are plotting a move for Leyton Orient youngster Devine Samuel, who was released earlier in the summer.

Blackburn Rovers are plotting a move for Leyton Orient youngster Devine Samuel, who was released earlier in the summer.

The 18-year-old left Orient in the club's annual retained list, after failing to agree a new deal off the back of a prolific season for the O's at youth level.

He is now the subject of interest from three clubs higher up the English footballing pyramid, and they include Blackburn, who are looking to snag him for their category one academy setup.

Blackburn Rovers want to sign ex-Leyton Orient striker Devine Samuel

Blackburn are eyeing a move for Samuel, according to a report from journalist Pete O'Rourke at Football Insider.

They are said to be among a host of clubs looking to seal the signature of the young striker this summer, but they face competition from Wolves and bitter rivals Burnley.

Samuel is yet to make his debut in senior professional football, but has an impressive goalscoring record in the Orient academy.

He scored 20 times last term at youth level for the east London outfit, whilst also taking in a loan stint at eighth-tier club Harrow Borough - he played seven times and managed to rack up 10 goals in that time.

The attacker is now a free agent after he and Orient could not agree on a fresh deal, allowing his contract to expire, although it's presumed that the O's would be paid minimal youth compensation if he were to move elsewhere.

Wolves and Burnley provide Premier League opposition but Blackburn Rovers will be confident of Devine Samuel deal

However, Rovers are not the only team interested in the prolific youth centre-forward.

Samuel has caught the eye of both Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley, among other unnamed clubs, thanks to his form for Orient.

Wolves have work to do over the summer after finishing 16th in the Premier League last term, while their Premier League 2 and under-18s sides fell to slightly lower finishes than in the prior season.

Burnley join the top-flight after narrowly finishing second to Leeds United, not winning the Sky Bet Championship title despite claiming 100 points across the course of the 46-game season.

While Samuel may struggle to enter the first-team of either Wolves or Burnley in the top-flight of English football, there is more of a chance he could push for a place at Blackburn.

Young striker Igor Tyjon - who has recently been linked to Arsenal - has played twice in the Championship for Rovers despite still only being 17, and he's developed strongly since his move from Rochdale, becoming a regular too for England's under-17's.