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Rovers wait on Di Santo deal

Image: Di Santo: Could stay at Blackburn

Sam Allardyce has no plans to sign a new striker unless he is unable to extend the loan of Franco Di Santo.

Allardyce rules out moves for Beattie and Van Nistelrooy

Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce has no plans to sign a new striker unless he is unable to extend the loan of Chelsea youngster Franco Di Santo. Allardyce currently has four front-line forwards to choose from, with Niko Kalinic, Jason Roberts and Benni McCarthy also at his disposal. Di Santo is currently due to return to Chelsea in the New Year, with Blackburn being linked with the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy and James Beattie as possible replacements. However, Allardyce is hopeful of keeping Di Santo at Ewood Park until the end of the season and will only enter the transfer market if Chelsea recall the Argentinian. "I've got four at the moment so I'm not in the market for any other strikers," said Allardyce. "We are only waiting for Chelsea to make a decision on Franco as to whether there's a possibility he can stay or not. "It is in their capable hands and hopefully they will be kind enough to allow us to keep him. "I've got Niko (Kalinic), Jason (Roberts), Franco and Benni (McCarthy) so four is enough."

Paper talk

Regarding the link to Real Madrid hot shot Van Nistelrooy, Allardyce commented: "It's paper talk. "There was an interest in the summer when Roque (Santa Cruz) had left, but Ruud is still on a long-term rehab programme from his injury, so it's probably come from there." Former Blackburn striker Beattie has been mooted as a target for Allardyce following his alleged bust-up with Stoke boss Tony Pulis. Allardyce said: "James Beattie hasn't got a chequered past at all. I don't think he's ever got himself into any trouble. "There's been a little bit of a scuffle at Stoke, but it's blown over now. It will all be done and dusted. "We would only go into the area of a transfer on the front-line if one of our strikers ends up leaving in that January window."