REPORTS that Argentine superstar Gabriel Batistuta will soon be on his way out of Fiorentina could spark serious interest at Ewood Park.

For the striker has figured high on Blackburn Rovers' wanted list in the past, only for their inquiries to run into a brick wall.

They did, in fact, make a firm inquiry about the world-class star during Ray Harford's reign, only to be told that if Fiorentina's president sold him he would probably be shot by the club's fanatical supporters!

Now that situation seems to be rapidly changing with those same fervent fans turning against their hero to such a degree that he is seriously considering his future.

With Roy Hodgson still in Italy, following his resignation as boss of Inter Milan last week, Rovers are in pole position to move for any Serie A targets.

And that might give them an advantage over any other interested parties.

Manchester United, for example, have already been strongly linked with him as they search for a successor to Eric Cantona. The extent of Rovers' efforts will clearly depend on just how highly Hodgson rates Batistuta, who has an outstanding record with Fiorentina. The new Ewood boss has been told that money isn't a problem and it would certainly take serious cash to persuade the Italians to part with the striker, for all the feelings of their volatile fans.

But Rovers need some major signings to show they mean business.

The Fiorentina supporters would once have rioted if Batistuta had been sold.

But they appear to have gone to the other extreme and the player is reported today as admitting that he is giving serious consideration to his future.

He is expected to make a decision at the weekend when the Serie A programme comes to an end.

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