ROMANIAN international Ciprian Marica is being eyed up by Blackburn Rovers as boss Steve Kean steps up his attempts to boost his side’s firepower.

The former Stuttgart striker is understood to be just one of a number of attacking options being considered by Rovers.

Kean is desperate to add to his attacking ranks with Jason Roberts the only out and out striker currently expected to still be at the club next season.

Club sources told the Lancashire Telegraph wantaway striker Nikola Kalinic had edged nearer to completing his move to Ukraine outfit Dnipro yesterday, leaving Rovers short on firepower.

January signings Ruben Rochina and Mauro Formica have impressed this summer but neither are expected to be out and out goal scorers.

Rovers are understood to have held preliminary talks with Marica about a move to Ewood, although he is just one of a number of possible targets currently being considered.

Marica, 25, has a number of other clubs chasing his signature, including Marseille, Genoa, Werder Bremen and Schalke, having been released from his Stuttgart contract earlier this month.

Having started his career at Dynamo Bucharest, Marica enjoyed a successful three seasons at Shakhtar Donetsk, including Champions League experience.

Stuttgart paid in the region of £6million for him in July 2007 and he has scored 16 goals in 18 caps for Romania.