THE chances of a major Ewood signing before the transfer deadline have slightly improved, revealed manager Ray Harford today.

"I am a little bit more hopeful than I was this time last week," he said.

"Things happen elsewhere that change the picture and you can only do business when someone else is willing to do it with you.

"It's all a matter of timing but results do change things."

Harford, who has kept an eye on Spartak Moscow duo Ilia Tsimbalar and Yuri Nikiforov, admitted that the Russians might look to sell more stars if they get knocked out of the European Cup by Nantes next Wednesday.

Rovers retain an interest in them but, as we revealed, it has cooled a little. It's more lukewarm than red hot, but still there.

They are only two on a long list of possible targets and Harford might have been hinting that QPR's two latest defeats could signal a crack in Ray Wilkins' resistance to the sale of Trevor Sinclair.

Meanwhile, Sunderland are expected to renew keeper Shay Given's loan for a third month next week.

Harford won't object but he stressed again that the young Irish keeper is not for sale. "He's not going anywhere and Shay is happy with that," said the manager.

"We felt that all he needed was a bit of experience and he can't get better experience than this."

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