Blackburn Rovers announced the signing of Nottingham Forest striker Ben Brereton on a permanent basis.
The Reds are believed to have received around £7 million for his services.
The fee had been agreed between the two clubs before he made his loan move in August.
The 19-year-old has hardly proven he is worth that hefty price tag at Ewood Park so far.
It could work out to be the best piece of business the Reds get over the line this month.
Smart move by Karanka
One difference between Aitor Karanka and former manager Mark Warburton is that the Spaniard will always favour Championship experience over potential.
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He is under strict instructions to mount a promotion challenge this season and he hasn’t got time to wait for players to develop.
It became clear that Brereton wasn’t going to be part of his plans moving forward.
He wanted someone who he knew could deliver at this level.
Therefore, he ensured that the club did everything in their power to sign Lewis Grabban from AFC Bournemouth.
Compared to the £7 million that Blackburn have spent on Brereton, £6 million for Grabban seems an absolute steal.
Brereton has failed to find the back of the net in 17 appearances this season, albeit with most of those coming off the bench.
When compared to Grabban’s tally of 15 goals, Karanka’s decision to let Brereton go looks like a master stroke.
Down the pecking order
Considering he left Forest in search of more first-team football, Brereton won’t be pleased with how the move has worked out for him so far.
Tony Mowbray has favoured the likes of Danny Graham, Bradley Dack and Adam Armstrong in his forward line.
Whether Brereton is able to dislodge any of those players remains to be seen.
Despite his lack of match action, Mowbray has previously stated that Brereton has a bright future at the club.
Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph in October, he said: “I knew when we were negotiating the signing that I didn’t think he was going to come in and hit the ground running.
“He had to come in and listen, watch and learn, and he’s 19.
“Ben is a nice kid, he’s got all the talent in the world, we just need to be patient.”
Brereton will be hoping he has established himself by the time Rovers visit the City Ground in April.