Scottish ace Kris Boyd is high up on Blackburn Rovers striker short list with Sam Allardyce expected to make his move in the transfer market by the weekend.

Allardyce is understood to have made contact with Boyd’s representatives over the last few days, as he looks to boost his firepower options before he joins up with his squad in Austria next week.

Boyd is understood to be one of three strikers Allardyce is currently looking at and he is expected to make his final decision between them within the next few days.

The Scottish international striker is top of a number of clubs’ wanted list but is believed to be favouring a move to Ewood Park and the challenge of the Premier League.

Turkish outfit Kayserispor and Championship side Middlesbrough are known to be chasing Boyd but the opportunity of playing for Rovers in the Premier League would prove too big a lure to resist.

He is keen on securing his future as soon as possible though, having just returned from holiday, and is in high demand after his scoring exploits across the border.

Boyd, 26, has finished as Rangers’ top scorer for the past three seasons and is the all-time leading goalscorer in the Scottish Premier League.

He is a free agent after revealing he would not be staying at Ibrox once his contract expired this summer and, with a limited budget available, would fit Rovers’ criteria.

Some of Rovers’ squad have already started pre-season training but the majority of their international players aren’t due back until they meet up in Austria next week - with their World Cup quarter still a month away from returning.

Boyd though will be desperate to fix himself up with a new club for next season, with the majority of clubs set to return in the next few days.

Boyd though is understood to be just one of three strikers Allardyce has identified as potential recruits, with Lyon’s Frederic Piquionne another possible target.

Allardyce’s transfer kitty remains in the region of £2.5million and the addition of Boyd could free up the possibility of strengthening elsewhere - although Rovers would still like to ease their wage bill in that eventuality.

The Rovers boss is currently still on holiday in Dubai but has been working hard over the last couple of days in his search for another striker, after deciding they could wait no longer.

The ongoing talks regarding a potential takeover at Rovers had complicated matters but, with just six weeks till the start of the season, Rovers believe they need to move fast in their search for more goals.