PREMIERSHIP new boys Crystal Palace have been eyeing Blackburn Rovers central defender Ian Pearce as a potential transfer target.

And London rivals West Ham United are also believed to have expressed an interest in taking him back to the capital, where his career began with Chelsea. But the Ewood answer to any inquiries about players like Pearce for the moment seems likely to be - nothing doing.

In any case Palace, who are eager to continue strengthening their squad in a bid to retain their recently-won status, might not be able to afford the sort of fee that Pearce would command these days.

They have already re-invested much of the £3 million-plus fee they received from Leeds for David Hopkin, paying Rovers £1.25 million for Paul Warhurst and also bringing Attilio Lombardo from Italy to England.

West Ham, desperate to sign at least one defender to cover for long-term injury problems and the loss of Slaven Bilic to Everton, had also looked at the possibility of making a move for Pearce.

But now they seem to have turned their attentions to Everton's David Unsworth, with a likely swap deal involving midfielder Danny Williamson.

When everyone is fit, Rovers have plenty of central defenders around and that was one of the reasons they were able to allow Nicky Marker to join Sheffield United.

Stephane Henchoz's arrival increased the competition for places, with Pearce on the substitutes' bench for Saturday's opening game - Colin Hendry partnering the Swiss star. Henning Berg is not too far away from recovery after picking up an ankle injury on duty with Norway, Chris Coleman believes he is only weeks away from playing again, while young Marlon Broomes showed in the pre-season matches that he too could well be a contender this season.

More players could be on the move in the not too distant future but Rovers boss Roy Hodgson, satisfied with victory over Derby County in his first Premiership game in charge, also admitted he is in the market himself for more new blood.

But he certainly won't be panicked or rushed into signing just anybody.

Graeme Le Saux's £5 million move to Chelsea has put another huge sum in the Ewood coffers but Hodgson stressed he would buy only when he could find players worthy of the money. "We still have a good squad," he said. "When I came here we had an enormous squad.

"But it's an arduous season and you do need a lot of players to get through.

"I have carte blanche to buy players that I think are necessary.

"But, watching the team's performance (against Derby) and knowing there are still some very good players in the wings ready to come in, I am not going to be racing out desperately to buy anybody at any price.

"I am only going to buy somebody if 'A' I can find the right player and 'B' if the price is right."

Billy McKinlay collected the sponsors' man of the match award on Saturday but that was overshadowed by his three-year-old daughter Danielle having to go to hospital, suffering from a virus. He hopes she will be released soon after checks.

Rovers' victory over Derby continued their record of making a good start in the Premiership. Since the Premier League was founded Rovers have had three opening-day wins, two draws and one defeat - the only loss coming against Spurs at Ewood last August.

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