Mark Hughes may have to play a game of patience in his quest to land the players he wants to strengthen his Blackburn Rovers squad.

The Ewood chief's top priority is a proven goalscorer, and Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy remains his number one target.

However, the Rovers boss will only discover if he has a chance of signing the Welsh firebrand, who is also a target for West Ham and Aston Villa, once Rafa Benitez has conducted his own business in the transfer market.

Hughes will use most of his summer transfer budget on strengthening his strike-force, and the club accept they may have to dig deep to land the calibre of player they are looking for.

Chairman John Williams said: "I think it's an open secret that we'd like another striker at the club and strikers don't usually come cheap.

"You are less likely to unearth an absolutely unheard of gem up front than you are perhaps in the back four, and Chris Samba comes to mind when I say that.

"It's unlikely that we are going to unearth a 20-goals-a-season man for half a million pounds because strikers command high prices in the market.

"The reality is if you are going to spend serious money then you have to be absolutely certain it's the right man to come to Ewood.

"You have to make sure the guy is right for the club, and vice versa.

"Then it's over to the manager and football factors. Does he complement what he's already got? And who's going to play with who?

"If you get all those things right, and make sure the player is settled off the field, there is a chance he will deliver on it."

Hughes is happy with the general make-up of his squad but he believes the signing of a top-line striker will enable Rovers to push for a top-six spot next season.

There is unlikely to be a great deal of transfer activity beyond that, however, because the emphasis this summer is on quality rather than quantity.

Williams added: "We need to spend our money carefully on a player - or players - that could improve the first 11."