FORMER Rovers' target Djimi Traore has been speaking of his regret at not moving to East Lancashire last season.

The French Under 21 defender, currently on the books at Liverpool, opted for a season's loan at FC Lens last term when the Anfield club rejected Graeme Souness' bids for the player.

Traore, who failed to break into the Red' first team, is set to spend another season on-loan in France, but has been reflecting on what might have been.

"I am looking forward to going back to France, but I feel I did make a massive mistake in not joining Blackburn," he admitted.

"I had the opportunity of going to Blackburn last year, but Lens were also interested. I moved to them in the hope of getting into the national team and possibly the World Cup.

"I was very impressed by Graeme Souness when I spoke to him and maybe in hindsight I should have joined Blackburn, but my club Liverpool wanted too much money for me."

Last summer, Rovers tabled two bids for the young Frenchman, but they fell short of Liverpool's valuation.

Souness said at the time: "He is a young player with terrific potential and would be a good addition to our squad. At the moment, the whole thing is on ice."