GARY Bowyer hopes Blackburn Rovers can establish a link-up with Manchester United and their new boss David Moyes to bring talented loan players to Ewood Park.

Bowyer is continuing his plans to strengthen his squad and has confirmed that he is close to making his fourth signing of the summer, believed to be a utility player under contract at another club.

And the 41-year-old, who continues to chase David Jones and a loan deal for Chelsea’s Todd Kane, is also keen to foster links with Manchester United after revealing that advice from Moyes played a part in Rovers’ fight against relegation at the end of last season.

Moyes, who recently left Everton to take over at United, knows Rovers managing director Derek Shaw well from their time together at Preston North End.

“Derek obviously had David at Preston and when we were in the run-in of the season I just asked if it would be possible to speak to him,” Bowyer said.

“Derek asked him and he said yes no problem.

“David was brilliant with me.

“He gave me half an hour of his time, he went through a list of things of, ‘Are you doing this, are you doing that, this is what you might need to do’.

“The advice was invaluable to us in terms of what we did and how we went about it towards the end of the season.

“Obviously Manchester United are only down the road and they have some talented players, ones I’ve seen growing up so I’m aware of them.

“If we can establish a link with them in terms of bringing players to give them experience in the Championship, it’s a fantastic contact.”

Rovers signed Josh King from United, first on loan and then on a permanent deal, when Henning Berg was Blackburn boss and Sir Alex Ferguson was still in charge at Old Trafford last season.

Having already signed Alan Judge, Chris Taylor and Simon Eastwood this summer, Bowyer is continuing to look at signings and is optimistic that one new face will join early next week after talks with the player’s club.

The player is currently on holiday but a deal has been worked on while he has been been away.

“Hopefully we’re close to trying to get something done and it would be a positive one,” Bowyer added of his transfer target. “It would be someone that the fans can identify with and expect to see a lot more of for us.”