Rovers close in on Matteo

Blackburn have confirmed they are interested in signing Leeds captain Dominic Matteo.

The 30-year-old former Scotland international was also a target for Manchester City, who had a bid for the player turned down last season.

However, Rovers have opened talks with Matteo as well as Leeds, who are seeking to off-load a number of players in order to cut their wage bill following relegation to the First Division.

Blackburn chief executive John Williams said: “We have held initial discussions with both Leeds and Dominic’s representatives. The talks are ongoing.”

Meanwhile, Williams denied Rovers had returned to Tromso with a second bid for Morten Gamst Pedersen.

Graeme Souness was interested in the 22-year-old winger, who has played four times for Norway, but the club say there is a “significant difference in the player’s valuation” between Rovers and Tromso.

Williams said: “We have registered our interest with a written bid that we feel is right, but we have not followed it up with a second.”