BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes has not abandoned all hope of signing Benni McCarthy -- despite having his latest bid for the South African international rejected.

After weeks of speculation, Hughes finally confirmed last night that the mystery striker Rovers have been chasing all summer is McCarthy.

However, the Welshman's hopes of luring the 27-year-old to Ewood before the start of the season are beginning to look increasingly slim after Porto turned down a bid of just under £4 million for their star striker.

When asked if the deal was now dead, Hughes told the Evening Telegraph: "The ball is in their court, basically, so we'll have to wait and see.

"He's a player who I think would be very good for us and that's why we've pursued him so vigorously.

"But at the moment it's a difficult situation."

It's thought that Porto want around nine million euros (or £6 million) for McCarthy after the player indicated he was keen on a move to the Premiership.

So far, Rovers are understood to have offered just over five million euros (or approximately £3.5m), which is virtually all of Hughes' summer budget for new players this summer.

The Ewood chief is desperate to boost his firepower by signing a proven goalscorer and McCarthy has been his number one target from day one.

"Once we felt we were in the position to have the finances to go and get him, we were hopeful of doing a deal," said Hughes.

With finances tight at Ewood, it's unlikely Hughes will be able to up his offer for the former Ajax star so he's now hoping Porto may have a change of heart if no other clubs come in for the player.

McCarthy is not the only target Rovers are pursuing and Hughes also confirmed last night that he made a tentative enquiry about Mikael Forssell before he opted to join Birmingham.

"We enquired about him, but we've enquired about a number of players," added the Welshman.

"We never got to a situation where we asked to speak to the boy.

"The only one we've really pursued is McCarthy so far."

Meanwhile, one player who would definitely be keen on a move to Ewood is Anderlecht striker Nenad Jestrovic.

The 29-year-old Serbia and Montenegro striker has set his heart on a move to the Premiership and he would jump at the chance of joining a club like Rovers after being linked with a switch to Ewood in the past.

"I love Anderlecht and I have won the championship, played in the Champions League and been top-scorer here but (a move to England) would be a new challenge for me," he said.

"There are offers from PSG, Bordeaux and Celta Vigo but England is my first choice and it would be a dream come true for me to go there."

Jestrovic was top-scorer in the Jupiler League with 18 goals last season, even though he had three months on the sidelines with a broken arm.

He is thought to be available for around £1 million.