MALMO today slapped a £1 million price tag on Swedish star Anders Andersson, writes TONY DEWHURST.

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph can reveal tonight that Malmo have kicked out a £400,000 bid from Rovers for the signature of the 23-year-old midfielder.

But Malmo have told Rovers that they can forget any transfer deal unless they meet Malmo's asking price - a cool £1 million.

Malmo president Hans Cavalle Bjorkman explained: "The first bid of £400,000 from Blackburn was simply not acceptable.

"We value Anders Andersson very highly and he is worth at least a million pounds. He is an international player with a lot of quality potential.

"We are not willing to even start discussions again with Blackburn unless they pay us £1 million.

"Anders will remain a Malmo player unless Blackburn come back in with an improved offer. That is the situation."

The Malmo playmaker and regular Sweden international - where he plays behind the front two of Kennet Andersson and Martin Dahlin - has less than a year to run on his current contract.

But the player is ambitious to play Premiership football in England. And he has told close friends he would relish a move to Ewood Park.

A reliable Malmo source said: "The club expect Blackburn to come back with a renewed bid.

"There is two week break in the Swedish season next week and the talk in Malmo is that Anders will be joining Blackburn during that period."

Rovers, though, are still confident that Andersson will join Stephane Henchoz and French full back Patrick Valery as the first parts of the Roy Hodgson jigsaw.

And Rovers have been linked with a second Scandanavian star - Sweden striker Martin Dahlin but there is little substance in that report.

And the new manager's attempts to sign world class strikers remain focussed on Fiorentina's Gabriel Batistuta and Real Madrid's Davor Suker.

Meanwhile, Rovers have denied reports that Lars Bohinen is on his way to Premiership rivals Coventry City.

Chairman Rob Coar said: "It is news to us. We've not heard anything from Coventry."

Rovers young defender Marlon Broomes featured in England's 2-1 victory over the Ivory Coast in the World Youth Cup in Malaysia last night.

Latest £500 Double Your Money winner is M Longworth, Blackburn, no. 119a.

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