Brighton & Hove Albion 'leading race for Ben Brereton Diaz'

Brighton & Hove Albion are reportedly leading the race to sign Blackburn Rovers striker Ben Brereton Diaz this summer.

The 22-year-old has been one of the standout performers in the Championship this season, scoring 20 goals in 32 appearances, and his performances are believed to have attracted interest from a number of Premier League clubs.

Brereton Diaz has less than four months remaining on his contract at Ewood Park, but Blackburn are expected to activate a one-year extension in his deal.

Despite that, TEAMtalk reports that Brighton are the frontrunners to sign Brereton Diaz on a permanent deal this summer, while Everton, West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Leeds United have also expressed their interest.

The report adds that the Seagulls are prepared to offer Jan Paul van Hecke and Reda Khadra, who are both currently on loan at Blackburn, as part of a deal to sign the £20m-rated Chile international.

Brighton already have on centre-forward arriving at the Amex Stadium this summer, with 25-year-old Deniz Undav – who signed for the Seagulls in January – set to return from his loan spell with Union SG at the end of the season.