ROVERS want Barnsley's free-scoring midfielder Craig Hignett to help shoot them into the Premiership.

Blackburn boss Graham Souness is chasing the former Crewe and Middlesbrough man who scored some 20 goals for the Tykes last season.

Hignett was a key figure as Barnsley reached the First Division play-off final and is thought to be keen on a move to Rovers.

But the two clubs are still some way apart in their valuation of the 30-year-old and there is still plenty of negotiating to do before a deal is on the table.

Souness confirmed today: "We have expressed an interest through an agent but no offer has been made.

"Obviously we are interested in him.

"Is it still alive? Possibly, although their valuation is different from ours."

There's no doubt that Hignett would be a highly useful signing for Rovers as they look to increase their goal output in search of a return to the Premiership. The former Liverpool trainee, who had a brief spell in the Scottish Premier League with Aberdeen a couple of seasons ago, has scored over 100 League goals since making his debut with Crewe in the 1988/89 campaign.

Last season was his most prolific yet and Souness is keen to add those goals to the Rovers squad.

The boss added: "He scored 20 goals last year and was one of the top scorers in this league from midfield.

"One of our problems last year was that we didn't get enough goals and he does really well from midfield.

"But we are still some way away in our valuation."

Barnsley are reluctant to lose Hignett but as the player has just a year left to run on his current contract they seem ready to cash in one on one of their prized assets.

A player package swap proposed by Nottingham Forest never got off the ground and reports that Rovers may let Damian Johnson go in part-exchange appear to be wide of the mark.

Barnsley chairman John Dennis declined to comment on a figure of £2.5 million put on Hignett's head in some quarters but said: "There has been some contact (with Rovers) but what they are talking about is unacceptable."

However, he added: "I would imagine Blackburn would be a club Hignett would be keen to join."

Another name which has featured is Leeds United's young striker Alan Smith.

But according to Rovers that is a non-starter.