Leeds United could seal Ben Brereton Diaz on a free transfer at the end of the current campaign.

What's the talk?

That's according to a report by Leeds Live, who claim that, having been heavily linked with the Blackburn Rovers centre-forward in recent months, Victor Orta could indeed launch a move for the 23-year-old next summer - when the striker's current contract at Ewood Park is set to expire.

However, the report goes on to state that the Whites are likely to face significant competition for the Chile international's signature, as AC Milan, Valencia CF and Sevilla FC are also reported to be keeping a close eye on Brereton Diaz ahead of launching a potential move for the attacker at the end of the season.

"Extraordinary"

Considering just how impressive Brereton Diaz has been for Blackburn so far this season, coupled with Patrick Bamford's continuing injury struggles throughout the current campaign, it is not difficult to see why Orta would be interested in a move for the 23-year-old - especially on a free transfer.

Indeed, over his 37 Championship appearances last term, the £8.5k-per-week sensation was in red hot form, bagging a whopping 22 goals, registering three assists and creating three big chances for his side, in addition to taking an average of 2.8 shots - 1.3 of which hit the target - making 0.6 key passes and completing 1.6 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the 14-cap international average an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 6.94, ranking him as Blackburn's eighth-best performer in the second tier of English football last time out - playing a key role in Rovers' late, albeit unsuccessful, push to secure a top six finish in the league.

It has been a similar story over his 21 Championship fixtures in the current campaign, with £14m-rated talent having already hit the back of the net nine times, provided one assist and created four big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 3.0 shots - 1.1 of which have hit the target - making one key pass and completing 0.9 dribbles per game.

These returns have seen the forward who Tony Mowbray dubbed "extraordinary" average an eye-catching SofaScore match rating of 6.89, currently ranking him as Jon Dahl Tomasson's ninth-best player in the division - once again playing a crucial role in his club's fantastic start to the 2022/23 campaign.

As such, with Brereton Diaz clearly being a striker who is capable of hitting the back of the net on a regular basis, coupled with Orta needing to replace the goals of Bamford at Leeds, it would indeed appear as if signing the Chilean on a free represent an absolute steal for the Whites' director of football - especially considering the striker's £20m asking price this summer.