STEVE Kean is closing in on making his first permanent signing as Blackburn Rovers boss after hijacking Monaco’s move for Argentine starlet Mauro Formica.

Rovers looked set to miss out on the 22-year-old attacking midfielder, with Formica passing a medical at Monaco earlier this week, but financial wranglings over the deal in France have re-opened the door at the 11th hour.

Formica’s Argentinian representatives have told the Lancashire Telegraph they arrived in Blackburn for talks yesterday and are hopeful the player will sign a three-and-a-half year deal in the next few days, after a medical.

The Lancashire Telegraph understands there were still some complications surrounding the deal to be ironed out but his potential switch would now be a permanent move, rather than a loan deal via Red Star Belgrade that was initially mooted.

Formica, who has been described as a young Gabriel Batistuta by Kean, is understood to have always favoured a move to the Premier League and Blackburn Rovers but initially opted for Monaco after complications delayed Rovers’ move for him.

The player had already been pictured in a Monaco shirt after passing his medical.

However, a hold-up over finances allowed Rovers to step in again and make a firm offer for his services, believed to be in the region of £3.5million euros.

Meanwhile Rovers target Sebastian Larsson is understood not to be keen on a move to Aston Villa as part of a swap deal with Curtis Davies.