Blackburn Rovers could be keeping a close eye on this weekend’s Championship play-offs with a move for Cardiff’s Joe Ledley understood to be under consideration if Morten Gamst Pedersen decides to leave Ewood Park.

Pedersen could yet make his final appearance for Rovers when they travel to Aston Villa on the last day of the season on Sunday, with the club still awaiting a decision over his future.

The Norwegian is out of contract this summer but Rovers have offered the 28-year-old a new deal and are hopeful that Pedersen will put pen to paper soon, with the player confirming this week that he has put offers from other clubs on the backburner in an attempt to come to an agreement at Ewood.

But Sam Allardyce, frustrated at the way the Pedersen saga has dragged on, has had to consider contingency plans should that deal fall through and is understood to be contemplating a move for Ledley after being impressed by his performances.

Like Pedersen, the Welsh international can play on the left or in the centre of midfield and has let his contract run down at Cardiff.

The 23-year-old would still command a tribunal fee under the terms of the Bosman ruling but that is expected to be a fraction of the £6m that Stoke offered Cardiff in 2008, only to see their bid turned down.

And Ledley’s future could hang on the results of the Championship play-offs, with Cardiff travelling to Leicester in the first leg of their semi final on Sunday.

The cash-strapped Bluebirds staved off a winding up order earlier this week and it is highly unlikely that they will be able to keep Ledley if they are not promoted.

Rovers are not expected to have vast funds to spend this summer and have made a striker a priority, but will also need to bring in a midfielder if Pedersen departs.

They are likely to face competition for Ledley, though, with West Ham United, Everton, Stoke and Wolves linked along with Old Firm rivals Celtic and Rangers.

The promising midfielder, perhaps best known for scoring Cardiff’s FA Cup semi final winner in 2008, already has 32 caps for Wales and captained his country against Estonia a year ago.

He was in last season’s Championship team of the year, although a hip operation kept him out for a period this season before his return last month.

But Rovers’ first choice midfielder for next season still remains Pedersen, who has said he could have agreed a deal elsewhere by now had he wanted to do so.

The Norwegian had looked likely to leave earlier in the campaign as he found his first-team place under threat, although he insists he had not decided to depart before his improved form in a new central role made him a key figure in the side once more.

“No, I’m still here, I don’t run away,” he said.

“I think I’ve been doing well in the last seven months. Perhaps we didn’t have a good start but now we have kicked on and are doing well.

“If it’s going to happen that I have to leave then it will be sad.

“But I’m still here, I’m still a Blackburn Rovers player and I’m going to enjoy every minute.”