Blackburn transfer diary 20 December 2009 - 12 January 2010

Blackburn will probably have to sell to buy this month with Benni McCarthy the most likely to leave - although replacing him for around £2m will be a difficult job. Morten Gamst Pedersen is also linked with a move away - but I doubt that Sam Allardyce will want to lose his ability with the dead ball too easily. But Allardyce does need to freshen up a tired looking team that is sliding towards the relegation zone.

Sunday 20 December 2009
The News of the World go a little off-piste in suggesting that Blackburn are set to pay a club-record £10m for Spanish striker Roberto Soldado - I don't think that this is the window for club record signings.

Monday 21 December 2009
The Daily Mail report that Blackburn are interested in Portsmouth full-back Nadir Belhadj - although Tottenham are favourites to sign the player. More positively in The Sun is a report that Blackburn have offered a four-year deal to United States midfielder Stuart Holden, who plays for Major League Soccer outfit Houston Dynamo.

Some reality in the Daily Mirror where Sam Allardyce says he will have to sell players before he can buy this month.

Tuesday 22 December 2009
The Daily Mirror report a mooted swap of James Beattie for Jason Roberts - which would appear a good swap for Rovers in particular. Whilst the Express reckons that a wildly excessive price of £4m for Tottenham's reserve fullback - Alan Hutton - is tempting both Blackburn and Everton.

Wednesday 23 December 2009
Sam Allardyce checks his new diet sheet. Salad today. Damn.

Thursday 24 December 2009
The Sun also reckon that a bid will be made for James Beattie - but it will have to be cash generated from other sales.

Friday 25 December 2009
Surely not salad again - it's Christmas!

Saturday 26 December 2009
Some light thousand island dressing is not a treat.

Sunday 27 December 2009
Chops! Great! ... What do you mean you're joking?

Monday 28 December 2009
Does this cucumber taste watery to you?

Tuesday 29 December 2009
The Daily Mirror report a loan move for Blackburn with highly rated Marseille midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa the target.

Wednesday 30 December 2009
The Sun reports an approach from Birmingham for Benni McCarthy - a figure of £2m is mentioned.

Thursday 31 December 2009
The fireworks look lovely, but I could kill a pie.

Friday 1 January 2009
New years resolutions? Invent a no-fat pie. Eat pie.

Saturday 2 January 2010
Blackburn look set to sign Portsmouth midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng for £4m according to The Times - but there could be a hitch as Fifa have a rule forbidding a player turning out for three different clubs in the same season. The Daily Mail reckon that Celtic are ready to pay £2.5m for Benni McCarthy.

Sunday 3 January 2010
The News of the World report that Blackburn have enquired about former Chelsea and Barca forward, Eidur Gudjohnsen, who played under Allardyce at Bolton ten years ago. Gudjohnsen is still only 31 and currently at Monaco.

Monday 4 January 2010
Lyon striker Frederic Piquionne (currently on loan at Portsmouth) is wanted by a host of clubs, Blackburn, Liverpool and Aston Villa included according to The Daily Mail.

Tuesday 5 January 2010
N ... e ... e ... d ... ... ... p ... i ... e ...

Wednesday 6 January 2010
The Sun go with the somewhat obvious story that Benni McCarthy would like to leave Blackburn.

Thursday 7 January 2010
This salad isn't too bad, really.

Friday 8 January 2010
The Sun report that Monaco forward Eidur Gudjohnsen is close to a £2m move to Ewood Park.

Saturday 9 January 2010
This thousand island dressing is really tasty.

Sunday 10 January 2010
The News of the World go for a re-tread of the Benni McCarthy situation linking Portsmouth (?!) and Birmingham with a move for the South Africa striker.

Monday 11 January 2010
Who needs pies.

Tuesday 12 January 2010
One forward who could pep up the Rovers attack is former Wigan striker Amr Zaki. The Times reckons that his current team - Egyptian side Zamalek - has offered him to Stoke City, Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers.

*Will Blackburn strengthen their attacking options in the next three weeks - or are there other areas that need bolstering to pull Rovers out of their decline? Let us know.