BLACKBURN have targeted Italian striker Carmine Esposito as manager Roy Hodgson looks to bolster his strike force for next season.

The Empoli striker scored 14 times in the recently finished Serie A campaign and could provide the extra forward power Rovers want for their twin assault on domestic and European honours next season.

The £3.5m rated Esposito has been checked out by the Rovers staff and there has also been some contact between the two clubs as Hodgson shops around for a front man to supplement Chris Sutton and Kevin Gallacher.

Rovers chief executive John Williams said: "He is one of a number of players on a long list which will be focused down.

"We have had a look at the guy. There have been informal discussions but nothing formal."

Premiership rivals Tottenham were also reported to be on the trail of the £3.5m rated Esposito but a spokeswoman at the Italian club said: "The only English club that has made contact is Blackburn."

Another possible summer signing was having further talks with Rovers today.

Rovers are bidding to land Gillingham starlet Jim Corbett who was meeting chief executive Williams today.

Williams said that nothing had yet been agreed but is hopeful that Rovers can persuade Corbett to pledge his immediate future to the Ewood Park club. "We have had discussions with the club and the player," he added.

The Second Division club are believed to want a fee over £1m depending on appearances for 17-year-old winger who burst into the first team picture this season to alert the attentions of a host of Premiership clubs, including Spurs, Newcastle and Aston Villa.

Meanwhile, Rovers defender Colin Hendry is in line to lead Scotland into their World Cup campaign after retaining the captain's jersey for their pre-tournament tour opener against Columbia in New Jersey on Saturday.

Hendry said: "From a personal point of view I have been given a massive vote of confidence by being named captain.

"It is hard to put into words how I feel. I am very proud, so are my family. Like all the other lads you want to keep your fitness level up before going to France and these two games in America will help in that respect.

"We played Colombia and the USA before Euro 96 and we know it will be tough. We lost both but it was the defeat by England in Euro 96 that still rankles. "It would be good to put that game behind us in France when we face Brazil and try and achieve the unachievable."

The Scotland squad were due to hold their first training session at Pingry Stadium, New Jersey, late today.

One of the main problems for the players could be the 80 per cent humidity, with temperatures in the eighties.

Hendry's Ewood team-mate Billy McKinlay is one of the players warned by Brown to stick to new FIFA rules that players can be booked for wearing shirts outside their shorts and not wearing shinpads.

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