Ipswich Town leading Southampton, Blackburn, QPR and Millwall in transfer race for defender

Blackburn Rovers, Millwall and QPR are all interested in signing Rochdale’s George Nevett this summer.

That’s according to a report from HITC, who say that newly promoted Premier League sides Ipswich Town and Southampton have also joined the race to sign the centre back.

Nevett is still only 18-years-old, but is already a first-team regular for Rochdale regardless of that.

Since making his debut last year, the defender has gone on to make 35 senior appearances in all competitions for the National League side.

As a result of that form, the teenager has already been capped by Wales at Under 19s level, and it seems he is now attracting plenty of interest from further up the pyramid as well.

Football League clubs in George Nevett transfer race

Last season, it was reported that Premier League side Crystal Palace were leading the race to sign Nevett from Rochdale.

So far though, no deal to take the defender to Selhurst Park has materialised, and instead, the list of suitors for the teenager appears to be growing.

As per this latest update, the Championship trio of Blackburn, Millwall and QPR are all now interested in signing the defender, and have been keeping tabs on him.

Meanwhile, Peterborough United – who missed out on promotion to the Championship after defeat in the League One play-offs last season – are also thought to be keen on Nevett.

Elsewhere, Ipswich and Southampton are also credited with an interest in the defender, after winning promotion from the Championship this season.

For their part, Blackburn, Millwall and QPR all claimed mid-table finishes in the Championship this season, after nervously looking over their shoulders at the relegation zone for much of the campaign.

Nevett only signed his first professional contract with Rochdale last summer, which is set to secure his future at The Crown Oil Arena until the end of the 2025/26 season.

That does at least ensure the National League side will have some scope to negotiate any offers that come in for the 18-year-old this summer.

Nevett could be a good signing for interested EFL clubs

It could be argued that the signing of Nevett would be a good one for these clubs in the Football League who have been linked to make.

Obviously, his lack of experience and the fact he is currently playing in non-league football means it would be a big ask for him to go straight into the senior side with one of these teams.

However, the level of progress he has already made and interest he is generating, highlights the potential he has to become a big asset who could generate a sizeable profit further in the future.

That would make him an appealing target for the likes of Blackburn, Millwall, QPR and Peterborough.

Indeed, in the case of the Posh, they do have plenty of form for plucking players from non-league in recent years.

At League One level, they could also offer him a quicker route to first-team football, which may work to their advantage here too.

Either way, with the Premier League interest there is in him, any Football League club who is able to secure the signing of Nevett would be pulling off a major coup.

So with that in mind, it does seem as though a deal for Nevett could be one that is worth pursuing for these interested clubs.