DERBY County's experienced midfield player Lee Carsley has been targeted by Blackburn Rovers as they bid to beat next week's transfer deadline with a major signing.

Pride Park boss Jim Smith confirmed today that Derby had rejected an initial offer by Rovers but they are expected to go back in for a player who would clearly fill manager Brian Kidd's requirements.

Ewood chief executive John Williams refused to talk about specific players today and Smith would not reveal the size of the bid for the 25-year-old Republic of Ireland international.

Carsley has been a key figure as Derby have established themselves in the Premiership.

And he would bolster the area where Rovers have been so severely depleted by the loss through injury of Garry Flitcroft and Billy McKinlay, as well as the sale of Tim Sherwood. "It's not appropriate for me at this moment to talk about individual players," said Williams today.

"But we have a selection of targets from the manager and we have been working very hard on trying to make a signing."

Carsley now seems to have moved to the top of that list as the man occupying their thoughts at the moment. Sources close to both clubs also believe there is still a chance that Rovers might be able to persuade Derby to sell, and the player to commit himself to Ewood. But the stumbling block might be the price they put on his head.

A figure of £4 million has been mentioned but, if that was to be the asking price, it would not seem too high on today's values, given that he is a current international still with his best years ahead. Other speculation suggested that Rovers were preparing to offer Kevin Davies in a part-exchange deal to tempt Derby.

But Smith knocked that one down and Williams today described it as "kite-flying".

He added that Rovers had not considered offering the striker to anyone as part of a bid to bring in one of their midfield targets.

The chief executive has already said that he is hopeful of beating the transfer deadline by bringing in at least one of the men the manager wants.

At this stage, it would seem unlikely that Rovers will be able to push anything through in time for Saturday's game against Wimbledon.

Burton O'Brien, Rovers' 17-year-old signing from St Mirren, was set to be named in the Scottish under-21 squad this afternoon. O'Brien, who has stayed on loan at Saints with fellow-teenager David McNamee, will be in the squad to face Bosnia (March 27) and the Czech Republic (March 31) at St Mirren and Motherwell respectively.

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