BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes will decide in the next few days whether or not to pursue his interest in Florent Sinama Pongolle.

The Liverpool striker impressed Hughes and his coaching staff during his spell on loan at Ewood last season.

Now Hughes is considering signing him permanently as he looks to strengthen his squad in preparation for a UEFA Cup campaign.

Ideally, the Rovers boss would like to bring in two new strikers this summer in the wake of Paul Dickov's departure - and Pongolle could yet be one of them.

Although the Frenchman didn't exactly set the world alight during his four-month stay at Rovers, Hughes and his staff saw flashes of the 21-year-old's ability to believe he could be a useful addition to the squad.

With Dickov having now left the club, Rovers have only three experienced strikers on the books in the shape of Craig Bellamy, Shefki Kuqi and Paul Gallagher.

That's why Hughes has made strengthening his strike-force his top priority this summer and Pongolle would add pace to the attack if Rovers could agree a sensible price with Liverpool for the former Le Havre player.

Hughes struck a similar deal with Arsenal for David Bentley in January after the England Under 21 international made a favourable impression during a spell on loan.

Now Hughes is considering doing the same with Pongolle and Watford keeper Richard Lee with a firm decision expected on the futures of both shortly.

The Rovers chief has also been linked with moves for Chelsea's Eidur Gudjohnsen, Birmingham's Emile Heskey and Porto striker Benni McCarthy, but the club have not made a firm bid for any of their targets as yet.