Blackburn Rovers are under pressure to keep hold of right-back Ryan Alebiosu as Brentford and Rangers enter the race for the 24-year-old defender.
Why Brentford and Rangers want Alebiosu
Scouts from Brentford and Rangers were spotted at Blackburn’s recent pre-season fixture to assess Alebiosu, though he missed the match through illness. Brentford are hunting for competition at right-back, while Rangers eye the 24-year-old as a long-term replacement for captain James Tavernier. Their interest follows links to clubs in Italy and Germany, a sign of how far Alebiosu’s stock has risen after a standout Championship campaign.
Alebiosu joined Blackburn from Belgian side KV Kortrijk last summer for around £500,000 after a successful loan at St Mirren. The move paid off quickly. He became one of the Championship’s most consistent attacking full-backs, earned Nigeria call-ups, and drew transfer interest as early as January.
How Blackburn plan to resist
Blackburn rejected a reported €5 million bid from Genoa in the winter window, showing their determination to keep Alebiosu. His contract includes a three-year deal with a 12-month extension option, which would take him to 2029 if activated. That gives Rovers strong leverage in talks.
With Tony Mowbray back in charge and last season’s survival still fresh, retaining key players is a priority. So far, only Moussa Baradji has arrived permanently this summer. Keeping Alebiosu matters even more as the new Championship campaign looms.
What happens next in the Alebiosu saga
Interest is set to grow as the transfer window rolls on. Blackburn are unlikely to sell unless a big offer arrives, while Brentford, Rangers and European clubs keep watching. Whether Rovers can hold onto one of their best performers could shape their summer.
Should Blackburn reject every bid for Alebiosu, or is now the time to cash in on a player worth millions?
