BLACKBURN Rovers boss Gary Bowyer has told Josh King he is at the perfect club to fulfil his potential.

King gave a tantalising glimpse of the devastating talent he possesses with a stunning hat-trick in the 4-1 FA Cup win over Stoke City in February.

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But his breathtaking performance that day means the jet-heeled striker will not be short of offers when his contract expires at the end of next month.

Rovers have moved to fend off interest from elsewhere by offering King a new deal that would likely see him extend his stay at Ewood Park to the summer of 2018.

And Bowyer is hopeful the 23-year-old, who was restricted to just eight starts this season, mainly due to injury, will put pen to paper.

“We want him to stay,” said Bowyer, who sees the Norwegian’s long-term future up front rather than on the wing.

“You saw the fine form he was in this season, in the cup games in particular, and the different dimension he brought to our strike force.

“And he is someone we feel has got a lot of potential to grow and get better.

“We want him here, he knows that, he knows how much we want him, so we’re just trying to get it over the line, but we’re hopeful.

“He’s a popular lad here, he’s settled in the area, and now he needs a good season under his belt in terms of fitness and in terms of an opportunity to show what he can really do.

“And we’ve been telling him that this club provides the best opportunity to progress his career even further.”

Bowyer is determined to tie King, Matt Kilgallon, Lee Williamson and Chris Taylor down to new contracts.

But he is also targeting free transfers and loan signings he feels will strengthen a squad that finished ninth in the Championship in 2014-15.

Bowyer has been linked with Stoke City right-back Andy Wilkinson.

But the 30-year-old, who was sent off against Rovers while on loan at Millwall in November, is not on his radar.

Bowyer is looking to add more experience – as well as pace – to his ranks.

But he is currently looking at players further up the field.

Bowyer finished the campaign without a single fit and available senior centre-back after injuries sidelined captain Grant Hanley, stand-in skipper Kilgallon, Alex Baptiste, who has returned to Bolton Wanderers at the end of his year-long loan, and Shane Duffy.

Hanley made his return to competitive action on Thursday when he played 63 minutes of Rovers U21s’ final match of the season.

The 23-year-old, whose last first-team appearance came on February 24, is aiming to be fit for selection for Scotland’s huge Euro 2016 qualifier against Republic of Ireland in Dublin on June 13.

And Bowyer would have no problems if his skipper was to play in the Aviva Stadium clash.

He said: “From our point of view we want him to play because it will show he is fully fit.

“What we don’t want is him having the summer off and then coming back in pre-season and it flaring up again.

“So we’re more than happy for him to play for Scotland.”