Last Updated: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:04
Sam Allardyce has admitted he could blow most of Blackburn's transfer kitty on a new striker but ruled out a move for Michael Owen.
The Rovers chief has acquired £18million from Manchester City for Roque Santa Cruz, while Matt Derbyshire has joined Olympiakos for up to £3million. And with doubts surrounding the future of Benni McCarthy, Allardyce is desperate to bolster his forward line as quickly as possible.
He has already admitted an interest in Chelsea's Franco Di Santo, but it looks like he also wants a proven Premier League forward. Real Madrid's out-of-favour former Manchester United hitman Ruud van Nistelrooy is one possibility.
He said: "If all the money I have available has to go on a striker, it has to go on a striker and that is it.
"We are not going to sign any other players in any other positions until we have secured the player up front as quickly as we can."
However, Allardyce scotched rumours he could snap up big earning England international, Owen, who is available on a free transfer from relegated Newcastle.
He added: "I don't think that we could afford him.
"I think that, from my point of view, with being at Newcastle, it has always been the injury threat.
"I can ill afford to sign a player who is going to be out of the team and has to really guarantee me 30-plus games a year."