'There has been interest in Reyes Cleary' - Former West Brom prospect catching eye again this summer

Former Albion prospect Reyes Cleary is being tipped for a move from Barnsley this summer after an eye-catching breakthrough season.

Cleary, 22, swapped The Hawthorns for Oakwell 12 months ago when he declined a new deal with the Baggies.

It proved an inspired move for the attacker, who shone as one of League One’s star men with seven goals and 15 assists in his debut season of regular senior football.

He also put in an impressive display at Anfield as the Tykes lost to Liverpool in the FA Cup and went viral after scoring a sensational goal from his own half.

Clearly commanded interest in the January transfer window and Barnsley were reported to have rejected offers of up to £3million for the rising star.

A move this summer of around or more than that figure could see Cleary’s former club Albion receive a windfall.

The Baggies are believed to have inserted a future sell-on clause to the deal that saw Cleary make the move to South Yorkshire.

Albion’s Championship rivals Blackburn were one of the sides credited with strong interest in the attacker, who likes to play from the left, in January.

Barnsley chief executive Jon Flatman confirmed there has been summer interest in “quality footballer” Cleary who has grasped his opportunity at first-team football with “both hands”.

Flatman told the Barnsley Chronicle: “There has been interest in Reyes this summer and we’ll continue to monitor that situation as we’ve said all along.

“He is a quality footballer and quality footballers will attract attention from other clubs.

“His age makes him a very exciting option for clubs.

“But Reyes Cleary will leave the club when the numbers are right for Barnsley FC.

“We’ve shown strength in that in January, and we’ll show strength again this summer if we need to.

“We’ve given Reyes a great platform and he’s taken that opportunity with both hands.

“We hope he continues to reward the club and himself.”

Flatman said it is Barnsley’s challenge to find more youth prospects like Cleary.

There was no shortage of noise around Cleary’s potential as he rose through Albion’s youth ranks.

He enjoyed several goal-laden campaigns, including at under-18 and under-21s level, with a highlights reel crammed with stunning strikes. At points Cleary, then a teen, attracted genuine attention from European outfits such as Borussia Dortmund among others.

He had a brief and unproductive loan at neighbours Walsall.

Birmingham-born Cleary joined the club aged eight and played seven times for Albion’s first team - three as a starter in cup competitions and two from the bench in the Championship.

But two significant injury setbacks blighted his final 18 months at The Hawthorns and made it a struggle for the attacker to build any fitness or momentum required to make his mark in the senior ranks.