BLACKBURN Rovers have insisted they have had no official approach from Dubai side Al Ahli for Sam Allardyce – and they are desperate to hang on to their manager this summer.

Reports have suggested that the affluent Middle East club have a firm interest in appointing Allardyce as their new boss but are also now pursuing former Rovers manager Mark Hughes.

Hughes is said to have flown out to Dubai, together with right-hand man Mark Bowen, to discuss the vacancy and Rovers will be hoping that Al Ahli turn their attentions away from Allardyce.

It is understood that Rovers have heard nothing from Al Ahli about any potential interest in their manager - although they are said to be concerned about the links, which are an unwelcome distraction ahead of the start of pre-season training today.

Rovers are very keen to keep hold of Allardyce after being happy with results in the last 18 months, during which time the former Bolton and Newcastle boss has guided the club from the brink of relegation to the top half of the Premier League.

Al Ahli may be able to offer a lucrative compensation package but Rovers believe continuity at the helm would be far more valuable than any cash incentive - particularly after seeing the club struggle in the six months following Hughes' departure to Manchester City two years ago.

The United Arab Emirates club - owned by the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheik Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum - have already signed Italian World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro this summer and want to attract a high-profile manager, having reportedly already failed in bids to bring in Harry Redknapp and Marcello Lippi.

Allardyce is known to be a big fan of Dubai, frequently travelling there on holiday and opting to take the Rovers squad to the area for a mid-season break in February.

He has also worked there as a television pundit in the past.

Clubs in the Middle East can offer large salaries and fellow Dubai club Al Nasr were linked with an interest in Rovers midfielder David Dunn before he signed a new contract at Ewood Park in January.

Rovers are currently in talks about a possible takeover by Indian businessman Saurin Shah and Allardyce has said he is keen it to be resolved as swiftly as possible, citing the problems he experienced following a takeover at Newcastle shortly after his appointment at St James' Park.

But Allardyce has never said he wanted to leave Ewood, although he could be interested in the England job should Fabio Capello leave his post following yesterday's World Cup exit - feeling he was wrongly overlooked for the position when Steve McClaren was appointed as national boss four years ago.