BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes is bracing himself for a busy summer of wheeling and dealing as he looks to bring in the players needed to make Rovers a force in Europe.
Hughes has drawn up a list of transfer targets he feels can take the club onto the next level, which he presented to the board at a meeting earlier this week.
Now, the forward-thinking Rovers boss is planning to work through that list over the summer, with the aim being to get any business concluded as early as possible.
"We have a list of players that we feel would add to the squad," said Hughes.
"Obviously, some will fall by the wayside, some will be too expensive, and others will go elsewhere, which is why you have to have a list, so it's going to be a busy summer.
"We'll try and get players in because there'll be more demands next season with European competition, and hopefully we'll be involved in the latter stages."
With Rovers in the UEFA Cup next season, Hughes believes the lure of European football could give him a vital edge when it comes to attracting potential new recruits, particularly if he goes abroad in his search for new talent.
"I think European football is a major thing for European based players, and if that's the market we find ourselves dealing in then, obviously, the fact we've got European football to offer could be the difference between clinching the deal or missing out."
The Rovers boss managed to squeeze in several scouting missions during the closing weeks of the season, and he's also planning to run the rule over a number of targets at the World Cup, although he did admit he's wary of signing players on the back of a couple of decent performances in a major tournament.
"I'll take a few games in (at the World Cup)," said Hughes.
"It's an opportunity to see a few guys who might be an option for you, but I won't be there for an extended stay because sometimes you can be clouded in your judgement when you see guys over one or two games in a World Cup.
"You don't get a real insight into how they actually play over a longer period of time, so there's always a danger in spotting someone in a World Cup."
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