JACK WALKER'S willingness to splash out £15 million on two of the world's finest strikers will send a chilling message to the rest of the Premiership that Blackburn Rovers mean business in the new season.

Uncle Jack has said he will do anything to see the glory days return to Ewood Park - and that desire has been underlined by backing Roy Hodgson's bold bid for Argentinian Gabriel Batistuta and Croatian ace Davor Suker.

The strikers are regarded as two of the best in the business and Rovers attempts to prise Batistuta away from Fiorentina, and Suker from Real Madrid, will make Manchester United and company sit up a take notice.

Hodgson - whose long awaited arrival at Ewood Park is just two weeks away - has already finalised one transfer this week, signing Hamburg's Swiss international defender Stephane Henchoz in a £3 million deal.

And whether or not Batistuta and Suker join him at Ewood Park, fans will be delighted that Rovers will not be taking a back seat in the summer transfer money-go-round.

In the past, Rovers have been left behind as the Premiership's elite jostle for the cream of the crop - and last season's dice with the drop was surely down to the failure to make any major signings.

Now qualifying for a European place has to be Hodgson's priority in his first season in charge as Walker has stated that he never wants to see a repeat of last season's disastrous campaign.

That should mean money is no object for Hodgson who has already ear-marked a string of top continental players - with French defender Patrick Valery and Swedish playmaker Anders Andersson top of his shopping list.

Meanwhile Stuart Ripley's proposed move to link up with former boss Ray Harford at West Brom appears to be over after the club signed Preston's flying winger Kevin Kilbane.

ROVERS kick off their Premiership campaign on Saturday, August 9 when former boss Jim Smith brings his Derby County side to Ewood Park. Aston Villa will be Hodgson's first test away from home four days later while Liverpool are in town on August 23.

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