RAY Harford's transfer net will be spread further across Europe next week.

The Rovers chief - linked with German stars Oliver Bierhoff and Jurgen Klinsmann - says a top international striker remains a top priority.

Speaking before today's important Premiership clash against Arsenal, Harford said: "There is nothing imminent but the search goes on.

"I can't put a time-scale on it but we need a big name. We're looking world-wide for a striker and will continue to do so until we are successful.

"We've watched four or five potential targets and I have a short-list of who I want to bring in.

"But there's a lot of complications to getting people in at this stage of the season. People are not willing to release players. But that might change over the next couple of weeks.

"If it was that easy we'd have had a striker in a couple of weeks ago.

"To get better than what we've got here it's going to be a big-name player. That's not always easy. There are a lot of stumbling blocks." Harford added: "The position of the club in the Premiership does not help. Two years ago, when we were going for the championship, a lot of players wanted to play for Blackburn.

"Now we are at the wrong end of the table it's not as easy attracting the right sort of players. Basically, we are having to work harder at getting players in."

Assistant manager Tony Parkes was in Helsinki last weekend to run the rule over the World Cup qualifier between Finland and Switzerland.

He added: "We've got our finger on the pulse all over Europe. We've a number of irons in the fire."

The Football Association will decide next week whether Arsenal striker Ian Wright should face a misconduct charge over the verbal attack on Sheffield Wednesday manager David Pleat.

Wright - who was due to line-up against Rovers at Ewood Park today - has apologised to the Sheffield Wednesday boss.

But League Managers' Association chief executive John Barnwell is reportedly putting pressure on both Arsenal and the FA to act against the 32-year-old former England forward.

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