Blackburn Rovers have made a pre-transfer window offer for Barnsley attacker Reyes Cleary, but they have already been turned down by the League One club and will have to return to the table if they want to complete a deal.

The Lancashire club has spent much of the season struggling near the bottom of the table, and they are currently 19th in the Championship rankings, only five points above the relegation zone.

Head coach Valerien Ismael has been plagued by injuries in all areas of the pitch, with attacking midfielder Ryoyo Morishita and striker Andri Gudjohnsen being the most recent casualties, leaving the French coach with few options in the final third.

Rovers are hoping to change that early in the transfer window, but they have already been turned down for one of their targets.

Blackburn Rovers rejected Barnsley’s bid for Reyes Cleary.

According to Alan Nixon via Patreon, Blackburn are interested in Barnsley forward Reyes Cleary, and have sent head of football operations Rudy Gestede to watch him play for the Tykes in their 2-0 defeat at home to Lincoln City on Monday.

While Cleary drew a blank, Rovers appeared to be impressed with the 21-year-old, as they tabled a’substantial six-figure’ bid after viewing him in action.

Barnsley have already answered in kind, rejecting Rovers’ transfer approach, but the Oakwell leadership is waiting for an improved offer from Blackburn or other teams interested in Cleary’s services.

Cleary has had a whirlwind few months since deciding to leave West Brom in the summer, having failed to break into the first-team at The Hawthorns despite having a strong reputation at youth level – he was once wanted by Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund as a teenager due to his abilities for Albion’s under-18 and under-21 teams.

And West Brom’s decision-makers will be watching, since a sell-on clause was agreed with Barnsley in the summer due to his age and the fact that they offered him a contract, implying that any Cleary move will help the Midlands side financially.

The wide forward moved to Barnsley earlier in 2025, signing an initial three-year contract in South Yorkshire, and while he had a slow start at Oakwell, Cleary exploded into life in October, and since his first League One goal against Wycombe Wanderers, he’s scored five goals and provided six assists from the left flank.

His highlight reel includes a goal of the season contender against Bradford City, which he scored from his own half, but his overall form is attracting admiring glances from higher up the EFL pyramid, and they are unlikely to fade anytime soon.

Barnsley will not be short-changed when it comes to Reyes Cleary after Blackburn Rovers offer

Given that he spent time on loan in the National League with Hartlepool United last season while still a West Brom player, Cleary’s climb has been rapid, and he has most likely exceeded his own expectations in the months since joining Barnsley.

He’s certainly had potential since he was a West Brom young player, as seen by his impressive goal record, but he’s had to wait for a meaningful chance at an EFL club, which Conor Hourihane is finally providing at Barnsley.

Whatever Blackburn put on the table was clearly insufficient to entice Barnsley to accept, and the fact that it was a six-figure bid is somewhat cheeky, as Cleary’s upside appears to be that of a £1 million-plus player – and that asking price is only likely to rise if he continues to shine in League One.

Davis Keillor-Dunn remains Barnsley’s talisman, but Cleary has been just as, if not more, fascinating to watch, and Tykes fans will now dread the worst when it comes to retaining the strong striker.