OLYMPIAKOS have made a move to sign Blackburn Rovers’ Argentine playmaker Mauro Formica on loan until the end of the season.

Sources close to the Greek giants have told the Lancashire Telegraph that talks have already started between the two clubs, with Olympiakos confident of sealing the deal this week.

Formica, who signed from Newell’s Old Boys for around £3.5m last January, has established himself as a regular this season and has scored three Premier League goals.

But the 23-year-old has spent the last two league games on the bench and was reported in Argentina last month as saying he had struggled to settle in England.

Rovers were unavailable for comment yesterday but it would be a surprise if Formica was allowed to be loaned out this month.

Steve Kean is eager to add to his squad rather than lose players.