BLACKBURN Rovers are expected to miss out on the signing of Argentine Mauro Formica with Monaco now the player’s preferred destination.

Manager Steve Kean had spoken about his bid to bring ‘a young Gabriel Batistuta’ to Ewood Park on Friday, in a complicated deal that would have involved signing for Red Star Belgrade and then being initially loaned to Rovers.

The 22-year-old attacker is now understood to be on the verge of signing for French outfit Monaco from Newell’s Old Boys for 3.5million euros, with his British representative admitting the lure of regular football might have been pivotal.

Formica was understood to be travelling to france yesterday and could put pen to paper today to officially end Rovers’ interest.

Agent Barry McIntosh, said: “It looks as though Mauro will now sign for Monaco.

“He is used to playing regularly in Argentina and he wants to continue that. "Maybe in the Premier League he would have to wait but in France he should play.”

Meanwhile Rovers are unlikely to sign Barcelona midfielder Victor Vasquez, despite reports linking them with a move to sign the 24-year-old on loan for the rest of the season.

The players representatives have told the Lancashire Telegraph Vasquez is likely to remain at Barcelona for the rest of the season as he waits for boss Josep Guardiola to decide whether he has a future at the Nou Camp.

A number of clubs are understood to have shown interest in Vasquez but are likely to be made to wait until the summer.

Barcelona’s 19-year-old striker Ruben Rochina is still believed to be on Rovers’ radar.

Meanwhile 19-year-old Brazilian striker Ronieli is expected at Brockhall for a trial in the next couple of days.

The Sao Paulo striker has represented Brazil under 20s and has spent this season on loan at Turkish outfit Karsiyaka.