BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes is thought to be mulling over a possible move for Celtic midfielder Stilian Petrov.

Hughes went to watch Celtic play Motherwell last week and the two players he ran the rule over were Petrov and his Bhoys team-mate John Hartson.

The Rovers chief admitted recently that he's scouring the globe for a long-term successor to Tugay, who, at the age 35, may be in his final year at Ewood and Petrov is a playmaker in a similar mould to the veteran Turk.

However, the Bulgarian international is a key figure at Celtic and he has indicated he wants to open talks with the Bhoys about extending his contract, which still has 18 months to run.

The £3 million-rated midfielder said: "I've had a few conversations with Celtic and in the next few weeks we'll meet again and see what is going to happen.

"I've always been happy to play for this club and I'll continue like that.

"I've already told Celtic they'll be the first I speak to and find out what they're thinking and what we're going to do.

"We'll see then if we can come to an agreement.

"I'll be happy because the team is fighting every year to win something, they want to improve all the time and do well in the Champions League.

"I'm the type of player who has big ambitions and I think the club can match those ambitions.

"This is an important contract for me because I'm 26 and we don't have a long career."