Blackburn Rovers

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Blackburn Rovers will rival Middlesbrough for Nantes striker Luigi Pieroni.

Belgian Pieroni, 26, was the top scorer in his homeland three seasons ago and is set for talks with both Premiership clubs, says the Mirror.

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Rovers hope for Santa Cruz deal

Mark Hughes is hoping Roque Santa Cruz will become a Blackburn Rovers player over the weekend.

Santa Cruz is discussing a move to Ewood Park after becoming surplus to Bayern Munich's requirements this season.

Bayern have confirmed Porto and two English clubs - the other is believed to be Manchester City - are interested in the Paraguayan striker.

Blackburn appear to have put up the most persuasive argument, with Hughes optimistic that Santa Cruz will join the club.

"We are very hopeful something may happen in that respect," said the Rovers manager.

"Maybe in the next 24 hours a deal could be concluded if the price is right."

Santa Cruz would become Hughes' second striker signing of the summer, following the arrival of Holland Under 21 international Maceo Rigters.

With Benni McCarthy, Jason Roberts and Matt Derbyshire also challenging for a starting spot, Hughes expects Santa Cruz to provide a different dimension.

He added: "What we don't have is a real threat in the air and that is something we are looking to address.

"Santa Cruz is a young player, an international with a good reputation who is playing at a top European club."

Source: Skysports

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Blackburn eye Danish starlet

Blackburn are looking at Danish starlet Adda Djeziri, skysports.com can confirm.

18-year-old Djeziri, who is at home on the wing or up-front, is very highly rated in Denmark and almost joined Rangers earlier this year.

He spent a number of months at Ibrox after joining on loan in January and was set to move permanently after impressing in the youth set-up, until Paul Le Guen left the club.

Following Le Guen's departure the move fell through and now Blackburn are set to take advantage.

Djeziri, who has Algerian family roots, has been training with Rovers and is understood to have impressed Mark Hughes and the club's staff.

Talks confirmed

Now Rovers are set to hold talks with his club Frem about a possible deal.

"I think he has done well and it looks good at the moment," Frem's sporting director Hans Hermansen told skysports.com.

"We will be having further talks this week, but we are expecting a yes or no soon."

Frem have already done one deal with Blackburn this summer after goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen moved to Ewood Park.

"Two months ago we sold Gunnar to Blackburn and it would be nice for them both if Adda also went there," Hermansen added.

"We are always happy to help our good young players move on, once they have reached the level that they can no longer progress at."

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Blackburn have been drawn to face Finnish side MyPa in the second qualifying round of the Uefa Cup.

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Sheffield Wednesday are set to land Blackburn Rovers striker Francis Jeffers today in a £600,000 deal. The Mirror says Wednesday boss Brian Laws will try to talk the striker into the transfer.

[Vargas_4]

Good to see Santa Cruz scoring in his debut.

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He even scored two days ago, in UEFA cup qualificiations.
Blackburn won 1-0.

uefa.com*-*UEFA Cup*-*Fixtures & Results*-*Match Specific

[Vargas_4]

I know. And it was his birthday. Good for him. 1 match comes in as a sub, 1 goal. Starting line up, 1 goal. Hope he does better.

[Vargas_4]

Way to go Santa Cruz! Scoring against Everton. Keep up the good work...

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Blackburn boss Mark Hughes has no intention of letting Tugay leave Ewood Park. The experienced Turkish playmaker has been linked with a move away from Rovers as he is yet to feature this season. However, Rovers manager Hughes knows Tugay's value and has promised him games as he looks to keep his squad fresh.

"Tugay knows how we feel about him - we love him," said Hughes.

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UEFA Qualification:

Blackburn v MyPa match preview

Blackburn Rovers play MyPa for a place in the first round of the Uefa Cup on Thursday.

Mark Hughes' men hope to join Bolton, Everton and Tottenham in Friday's draw.

Roque Santa Cruz's goal gives Rovers the edge heading into the second qualifying round second leg at Ewood Park.

Rovers have come through the Intertoto Cup to get to within one positive result of reaching the Uefa Cup competition.

But Hughes will not be taking anything for granted when they face the Finns at home.

"It is a competition we want to do well in. We want to keep on progressing," he said. "I have some exceptionally good players and am confident in the squad.

"But we cannot afford to be complacent against MyPa. We have to be really professional. There is only one goal in it and they could equalise from a free-kick or a set play.

"It is our intention to pick them off at home and maintain that winning situation."

Cautious approach

Blackburn captain Ryan Nelsen returns from suspension and will take his place in the starting line-up.

Rovers have no new injury worries but Hughes could be cautious and leave Benni McCarthy, David Dunn and David Bentley out.

The trio are all just one yellow card away from picking up a one-match European ban.

Skysports

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Blackburn Rovers are eyeing Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone. Rovers boss Mark Hughes, who needs a replacement for veteran Tugay, is a long-term admirer of the 20 year old. Tottenham are unlikely to be interested in any deal now but Rovers could swoop next January.

Huddlestone would have been class if he had some more pace.Too slow!

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Blackburn Rovers are expecting Steven Reid to return to full training next week following a lengthy injury lay-off. The Republic of Ireland international has yet to kick a ball this year after damaging his knee ligaments in training back in January.

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Ryan Nelsen has agreed to return to international football after being named as New Zealand's new captain. The Blackburn Rovers defender has not played for his country since the 2004 Oceania Nations Cup/World Cup qualifying tournament. But the recent retirement of Danny Hay has prompted Nelsen's return to the New Zealand fold as skipper.

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Williams: Takeover still on

American-based businessman Daniel Williams has stated he is still interested in buying Blackburn Rovers.

Stories had been circulating that Williams was ready to pull the plug on the potential deal due to other business commitments, but the multi-millionaire has now said he is still hoping to complete the deal.

"We are still interested," he said in the Lancashire Telegraph. "We are still working behind the scenes to put everything together, and when we have done that, we will get back in touch with the club again."

Re-evaluation

Williams and his business partners initially showed interest in Rovers in March this year and had hoped to complete the takeover by August.

However, a deal was not completed and Williams has had to re-evaluate his completion date.

"My personal plan is to try and get something done by January," he revealed. "At the moment, there's not a mad scramble to try and get something done because the transfer window has just closed.

"And because of that, people are assuming the deal is dead. But that's not the case at all."

Urgency

Fan reaction to the takeover has been mixed, with some suggesting that the duration of the takeover shows a lack of commitment form Williams.

And the Lancashire-born businessman says he can understand the supporters' frustrations but explains that there simply is no urgency because of the current state of the club.

"It's not as if the club is in financial peril," he said. "If we came in between now and January what would we do? We'd still have John (Williams) as chairman, and we'd be trying to run the club as well as the trustees have done."

Skysports