BLACKBURN Rovers are understood to be monitoring the availability of Manchester City striker Benjani.

Rovers boss Sam Allardyce is searching for at least one new striker following the recent departures of Roque Santa Cruz and Matt Derbyshire, and has expressed his preference to bring in someone with a proven Premier League track record.

Allardyce is believed to be keen on Tottenham’s Darren Bent but it remains to be seen whether he will fall within Rovers’ price range.

Reports yesterday suggested that Sunderland, who are thought to be the frontrunners, have had a £12m bid turned down for the former Charlton Athletic man.

The Lancashire Telegraph now understands that Rovers are keeping a close eye on developments at Manchester City, where more than one striker of interest to Allardyce may become available as Mark Hughes bids to improve his squad with star signings.

The likes of Valeri Bojinov, Craig Bellamy and Felipe Caicedo may find themselves down the pecking order and it is believed that Zimbabwean forward Benjani Mwaruwari is someone who is interesting Rovers.

The 30-year-old, who struggled to re-establish himself after injury problems last season, has already been linked with Stoke and Fulham and has publicly said that he would welcome a return to former club Portsmouth.

Benjani scored 12 league goals for Pompey in the first half of the 2007/08 campaign before a £3.87m move to City.

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