SAM Allardyce’s summer transfer search remains ‘business as usual’ with any potential Blackburn Rovers takeover still a long way from being a done deal.
Indian businessman Saurin Shah became the first potential buyer of the club to show his hand but, with negotiations still ongoing, the Rovers boss has been told to remain focused on the immediate job in hand.
The Indian group led by Mumbai based Shah have submitted an offer to purchase the Ewood Park outfit, but there are believed to be other interested parties also still talking to the club.
In an exclusive interview with Shah’s uncle Niranjan, cricket’s Indian Premier League deputy chairman, he revealed to the Lancashire Telegraph funds would be available to strengthen the squad if their bid was a success.
But, with just two months before the start of the new Premier League season, Allardyce will continue working to bring in a striker within his current budget until he is told otherwise.
A list of alternative targets has though been drawn up should the club come into money either through transfers or new investment, but Rovers will not put everything on hold in the hope a takeover does go through.
A limited budget remains available to Allardyce, believed to be in the region of £2.5million, although the sale of Australian midfielder Vince Grella would boost his spending power.
Rovers and Galatasaray have agreed a deal in principle in the region of £2million for Grella but personal terms have not yet been struck between the player and the Turks with time running out.
Sources close to Galatasaray have indicated a stumbling block between the player and the Turkish outfit has slowed the transfer down but remain hopeful the deal will be finalised today.
With Grella involved in Australia's World Cup opener against Germany yesterday evening, the transfer was put on the backburner but Rovers will want a conclusion to the saga within the next 48 hours.
Allardyce is not desperate to see Grella, who has struggled with injuries in his two Premier League seasons, leave the squad and would welcome him back should the move to Galatasaray break down.
But the Rovers boss would also welcome the potential cash boost, with the job of finding a striker on his current budget a tough ask.
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