BLACKBURN Rovers boss Gary Bowyer will have to sell to buy in the January transfer window.

Bowyer is desperate to tie Tom Cairney to a permanent deal once his loan runs out from Hull City in four games time.

But his most pressing priority next month will be trimming an excessive wage bill that is not of his own making.

Rovers are still counting the cost of an extravagant spending spree 18 months ago overseen by global advisor Shebby Singh.

It was one of the major contributing factors behind the club posting losses of £36.5m for last season.

Of the 12 players signed in the summer of 2012 seven – Jordan Rhodes, Leon Best, Dickson Etuhu, Fabio Nunes, Paulo Jorge, Edinho Junior and Nuno Henrique – remain on Rovers’ books.

But only one – top scorer Rhodes – has been a regular under Bowyer since he was named as the club’s full-time manager in May.

“We have to try and get the players on the fringes out if we can and to raise our own funds that way,” said Bowyer, who has been told by Rovers owners Venky’s that he does not have to sell the highly coveted Rhodes.

“It’s been well documented about our accounts so that’s certainly something we’re looking at.

“We have drawn up a list of targets but I think we will be more reactive than proactive in the market in January.

“If we can get one or two out that are surplus to requirements then that’s what we’ll do.

“I’m sure the shenanigans surrounding Jordan Rhodes will start again and we’ll have to deal with that.

“Everyone has got their price. I’m not saying Jordan Rhodes is for sale but everyone in our squad has got their price and we have to cut our cloth accordingly.”

Danny Murphy, Nuno Gomes and Diogo Rosado had their contracts terminated by mutual consent in the summer.

When asked if Rovers would consider coming to further settlement agreements in January, Bowyer said: “It’s something that we’ve discussed slightly but I think there are other avenues to explore first and foremost before we go down that line.”

Cairney’s loan from Premier League new boys Hull expires on January 2.

The midfielder, who will be a free agent in the summer, this week told the Lancashire Telegraph that he would be happy to remain at Rovers.

But unless a deal is struck the trip to Leeds United on New Year’s Day could be his last game in the blue and white halves.

“Everybody connected with the club and the training ground would like to make something of it,” said Bowyer.

“But we have to remember he is a Hull City player and he has a contract with them until the end of the season.

“We’re in conversations with Hull City but like I say he’s their player and until they give us the green light we will have to wait and see with that one.”

Rovers duo Bradley Orr and David Goodwillie see their loans at Blackpool and Dundee United respectively run out on January 2.