BLACKBURN Rovers new signing Yildiray Basturk spoke to former Turkish international teammate Tugay before deciding to make the move to Ewood Park this week.

Basturk is following in Tugay's footsteps by joining Rovers, having initially signed on a permanent deal until the end of the season.

And the deal could be extended if the midfielder settles into life at Ewood Park.

Basturk has found himself out of favour at Stuttgart this season and Blackburn have moved to lure the 31-year-old to Lancashire.

“I am very happy to be here,” he said. “After 10 years of playing in the Bundesliga I want the challenge of playing in the world’s best league.

“I am proud to be here.

“I wanted a challenge and now I am here. The fans are unbelievable here, the stadiums are very good and the pople are crazy for football.

“I have contact with Blackburn for three months, I spoke to Tugay and he said it is very good club.

I played fairly often with Tugay in the national team, about 50 games, and he always told me how good Blackburn is.

“I know now how much Tugay was loved.

“They all said how good a player and person he was.

“I knew it before but now I know how the people love him.”

Sam Allardyce said: “If he can reproduce the form he has shown in Germany, then we’re looking forward to him playing here.

”The lad is committed. He wants to play in the Premier League, and we’re going to give him the chance.

”I hope he is one of those gems I used to find at the old club down the road (Bolton) because he certainly has the quality and ability.

”What we’ve got is someone who has been cast off at the club he was at, and he wants to test his ability in the Premier League.

”I’ve had many of those so-called mercenaries in the past like Jay-Jay, Djorkaeff, Hierro, Campo, N’Gotty, Stelios, and they’ve all been outstandingly good players in the Premier League.

”I hope this lad will do the same. He certainly has the pedigree anyway.”

Asked whether he was concerned at Basturk’s lack of football, Allardyce was at least honest enough to admit it was a problem.

However, he added: “But if he was still a top player playing top football at the highest level, he wouldn’t come to Blackburn would he?

”We will introduce him in two to three weeks’ time, and let’s see what he can do.”

Basturk last night watched Blackburn's win over Wigan Athletic.