KEVIN Gallacher is in the spotlight again, with a decision expected to be made by Blackburn Rovers this week on whether or not to offer him a new deal.

The Scottish international, who is now being linked with Manchester City, has already admitted he has to be realistic about his long-term prospects at Ewood

And that future could yet depend on how successful manager Brian Kidd is with his search for a new striker.

For, as the possibility of strikers moving both into and out of Ewood increases, there are suggestions that a deal for Bradford City's Robbie Blake could yet be revived.

But links with Sheffield Wednesday's Andy Booth in the Sunday newspapers are thought to be wide of the mark.

City boss Joe Royle is the latest to be connected with Gallacher, in a Sunday newspaper report. Though Royle denied today that he had made a bid.

That was confirmed at Ewood, where chief executive John Williams said there had not been any "formal offers".

But interest from City cannot be entirely discounted, possibly depending on what happens this week.

Williams revealed that Rovers were mindful of the need to make a decision over the Scot's future, as he is in the final year of his contract.

If they decline to offer new terms then it will be equivalent to opening the door for clubs to come in for the striker, who will be 33 in November. He is still a prominent figure in the Scotland squad but it is not yet clear whether he will be a Rovers regular this season.

Gallacher was a substitute in the opening game and, although he started at Huddersfield, was replaced during the second half when Rovers went with Jason Wilcox and comeback man Nathan Blake up front.

City boss Royle has been linked with several strikers, including Booth and Reykjavik's Bjarki Gunnlaugsson, twin brother of former Bolton front man Arnar who is now with Leicester.

Gunnlaugsson was prominent for the Icelandic side in last week's UEFA Cup victory over Kilmarnock.

In summer, Royle is also believed to have made inquiries about Ipswich Town star David Johnson.

There isn't a lot of money available at Maine Road but Gallacher could be in their price bracket.

Sheffield United manager Adrian Heath was at Huddersfield on Friday night and he too is interested in signing a striker.

In the other direction, there have been hints that Bradford's transfer-listed striker Blake could yet finish up at Ewood as the transfer speculation merry-go-round gathers pace.

Bradford are now believed to be ready to accept £3.5 million for Blake, compared to the £5 million they were originally demanding.

That is still considerably higher, however, than the package of around £2. 5 million that Rovers had rejected some time ago. Kidd, who has also been considering other potential targets, seemed resigned to the Blake deal being dead.

The manager admitted as much on Friday.

But Blake was left out of the Bradford squad - said to be suffering from a stomach bug - for Saturday's draw with Sheffield Wednesday.

And, in one sense, the pressure is on the Premiership new boys who can scarcely afford to have such an asset on their books if he is not going to be involved.

Sources close to Valley Parade feel they may yet have to cash in and sign a replacement before too long.

Meanwhile, there is no truth in a Sunday newspaper report that Kidd is considering taking legal action over remarks made in Sir Alex Ferguson's book.

The Rovers boss would not even comment on the story.

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