SOUTHAMPTON striker Egil Ostenstad has come under close scrutiny from Blackburn Rovers as Roy Hodgson's Europe wide search for striking reinforcements continues, writes PETER WHITE.

But new Dell boss David Jones is expected to put the block on any major outgoing moves until he has had time to settle in and weigh up the strengths and weaknesses of his squad.

Rovers have a lengthy list of potential transfer targets and are known to be looking to boost their attacking resources.

Some of the biggest names in Europe, such as Gabriel Batistuta, are likely to be on it. But it will also include lesser-known but effective strikers such as Ostenstad.

I understand that Rovers' interest in the aggressive Norwegian has gone as far as a tentative inquiry, but that they received no encouragement from Southampton who have taken some time to recover from the shock departure of Graeme Souness.

Ostenstad proved a tremendous success on the South coast last season, after joining Saints from Viking Stavanger in October for £900,000.

He scored 14 goals and was voted player of the year by the Southampton fans. As well as his poaching ability and physical attributes, he also showed great skill and composure to set up a goal against Rovers on the penultimate weekend of the season.

But it looks as though new boss Jones will be determined to hold onto his most prized asset. There have been reports that the Norwegian international, along with midfielder Jim Magilton, was unsettled and looking for a move this summer.

And he might be concerned about Souness's departure.

But, unlike Magilton who has yet to agree new terms, Ostenstad is under contract and Jones doesn't envisage much transfer movement until he has seen his new charges in action.

Meanwhile, prospects of Rovers bringing Swiss playmaker Ciriaco Sforza from Inter Milan to Ewood seem to be fading.

Paul Ince's decision to quit San Siro this summer and head back to England makes it more than likely that Hodgson's former club will want to hold onto Sforza.

A move for Ince instead of Sforza doesn't seem part of the equation either.

Rovers' new boss has not shown much interest in maintaining his links with Ince, despite the fact that the England midfielder is up for grabs.

And, while Hodgson is clearly an admirer of Sforza, the club's continuing interest in Malmo's midfield star Anders Andersson adds weight to the theory that it will be a Swiss miss as far as the Inter star is concerned.

There is a fair gap between the £400,000 Rovers are believed to have offered for Andersson and the £1 million Malmo are demanding.

But those figures are relatively low in today's market and obstacles to a future deal should not be insurmountable.

I understand the clubs are still talking and it would not be a surprise if there are further developments in the near future.

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