Hughes plots another surprise capture

Now, the fiercely ambitious Rovers chief is planning to make a similar raid in the transfer market this summer as he looks for the star quality needed to take the club onto the next level.

Hughes, whose Rovers side face Manchester City at Ewood Park tomorrow, will meet with the board early next week to discuss what funds will be made available to spend on reinforcements this summer.

And although he's not expecting to be handed a fortune by chairman John Williams and his fellow directors, the Rovers boss is ready to use whatever cash he does get to sign a proven goalscorer to play up front alongside Bellamy.

It's going to be a tough challenge for Hughes to improve on the achievements of the last nine months, which is why he will place the emphasis on quality rather than quantity when it comes to raiding the transfer market.

But if he can find a player who has the ability to make the same kind of impact Bellamy has this term, then Hughes believes he can take the club even higher over the next 12 months.

The Rovers chief said: "Craig was a really important signing for us last year.

"Everyone knew we had to improve in that respect, and to be able to get a player of Craig's quality into the club was really exciting from my point of view.

"If we can get a player who has a similar impact that would help, but we'll have to wait and see.

"There will be players out there who can help us if we can get them in. I know that.

"If the opportunity comes up and we can get someone alongside Craig that will enable him to score more goals then we'll obviously look at it.

"We've got to keep that cutting edge up front. It was really important this season that we were able to improve that aspect of our game.

"We do have that cutting edge now, but you can always improve.

"It's about getting the right combination of players.

"Up front, I think you can mix and match players to get the impact that you need, so it's really about variations and options in attack."

Hughes has a list of targets he plans to work through this summer and he will also seek Bellamy's opinion before making any moves in the market.

In the past, the speedy Welshman has tended to work well off more physical strike-partners like Alan Shearer and John Hartson, and Hughes is convinced he can find the right man to get the best out of his star performer.

"I'd like to think I'd know myself what type of player he needs," said the Rovers boss.

"That's what I get paid to do, and Craig gets paid to play football.

"He imparts his opinion and obviously you take heed of that, but whoever comes into the club will have to come up to the levels I feel will help not only certain individuals, but also the team as a whole."

Certain names have already been touted as potential targets, from Emile Heskey at Birmingham to Chelsea's Eidur Gudjohnsen.

Hughes confirmed he DID have an informal chat with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho about possible signings earlier this week, but refused to reveal their identity.

"You have conversations with a lot of clubs over a long period," said the Welshman.

"Whenever you are in the company of other football people, you are always asking about players and what they do?

"You're like a sponge in that respect. You're always trying to glean information."

As for his plans to strengthen the squad, he added: "I don't know if it's a case of getting more numbers in. We've got guys who are coming back to us in the summer who have been out on loan and we hope they will supplement the players we've already got.

"Most of them have made an impact when they've been out so I don't think we need numbers, we need quality.

"If we can improve the quality that we already have then we'll be in better shape to cope with any of the demands that hopefully a long run in Europe will give us."

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