BLACKBURN Rovers will today attempt to tie up the services of Tugay when they offer him a new contract.

The Turk's agent is flying out to Istanbul to meet the player with the offer, which Rovers hope will head off interest from his previous club Galatasaray.

The midfielder spent the first 12 seasons of his career in his homeland at the Ali Sami Yen and Galatasaray's director of football Ergun Gursoy is hopeful that the club can agree a deal to bring him back.

And Tugay himself has been quoted in the Turkish press, saying he wants to end his career back at his first club.

However, this doesn't indicate that he isn't happy to put pen to paper for another year - plus a possible extension - at Ewood Park.

"We've spoken to Tugay and Gheorghe Hagi (Galatasaray coach) wants the player," said Gursoy.

"We know him well and he knows us, so if the conditions are correct we will get him."

But Rovers chief executive John Williams, while wary of the interest from the Turkish club, remains confident Tugay will ignore the lure of his former club.

"The Turkish press have been running that story for some time but you never count your chickens," said Williams.

"Deals are never done until the ink is on the paper but there's a decent chance he'll sign for us.

"His agent flies out tomorrow with our offer and we hope he'll sign it. Graeme (Souness) is quite confident but we'll see."

Tugay, who turns 34 in August, admitted he is happy at Blackburn but is attracted to a possible career swansong at his first club.

"I didn't talk about wages. That's down to my agent," he said. "Blackburn have offered me a contract but we put that on hold that when Galatasaray made an offer.

"I'm very settled in England but playing for Galatasaray in their centenary year sounds appealing to me. If I return to Galatasaray I will retire there."

The Turkish World Cup star wasn't always at his best last year but picked up form towards the end of the season just at the right time, to help steer Rovers towards Premiership safety.

Blackburn boss Souness, who signed Tugay from Rangers in 2001, is keen to have his experience in the middle of the park as they look to improve on last season's disappointing finish of 15th in the top flight.

Meanwhile, Williams has quashed more speculation in the foreign press regarding Czech defender Radim Kucera.

Reports suggested that Rovers are set ot start negotiations with Gambrinus Liga side Sigma Olomouc to bring the 30-year-old to Ewood next season.

However, Williams said: "We are getting a lot of names thrown at us but we know where we're going, we have our targets and he's not one of them."