BLACKBURN Rovers have rejected a bid from Ipswich Town for striker Francis Jeffers.

The 26-year-old spent the last few months of the season on loan at Portman Road where he scored four goals in nine appearances - two as a substitute.

And manager of the Tractor Boys, Jim Magilton, has moved to make his spell in East Anglia permanent.

Jeffers is also believed to be keen on a move to the Championship club.

But Rovers chairman John Williams has said Ipswich have fallen some way short of their valuation of the former Everton and Arsenal forward.

However, he did leave the door open for future negotiations with Ipswich and other clubs who are thought to be interested.

He said last night: "We have had an offer from Ipswich and Francis is keen to go there, but it's not at a level we deem to be acceptable at the moment.

"We have said that we are prepared to let Francis go, but they (Ipswich) will have to meet our valuation of him."

As revealed in the Telegraph earlier this week, Rovers boss Mark Hughes has stated he is willing to listen to offers for Jeffers and defender Andy Todd, who both have 12 months remaining on their contracts.

Rovers want a seven-figure fee for Jeffers, while Todd is thought to be wanted by Birmingham, Portsmouth and Sunderland and would cost in the region of £500,000.

Jeffers, who burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old at Goodison Park, joined Rovers at the start of the season on a free transfer after unsuccessful moves to Arsenal and Charlton and a loan spell in Scotland with Rangers.

Famously dubbed "the fox in the box" by Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, Jeffers failed to set the heather alight at Ewood Park, netting just one goal, a penalty, in the dying minutes of Rovers' 3-1 Uefa Cup win over Basle at the start of November.

He has found it even more difficult to break into the side largely due to the emergence of young gun Matt Derbyshire.

And it appeared as though the writing was on the wall for Jeffers at the start of March when Hughes sanctioned his loan move to Ipswich.

Meanwhile, Rovers have opened up negotiations with another striker, Shabani Nonda, and his club Roma with a view to keeping him at Ewood Park on a permanent basis, although it is understood work has to be done before terms are agreed with both the player and club.

And England youth international Andreas Arestidou has signed his first professional contract with Rovers.

The 17-year-old keeper has agreed a two-year deal after impressing as a first year scholar with the club's Academy.

Elsewhere, West Ham are reported to be interested in signing Rovers target Craig Bellamy.

With Carlos Tevez set to leave Upton Park this summer, manager Alan Curbishley is thought to be lining up Bellamy as a possible replacement.