BLACKBURN Rovers will step up their interest in Porto striker Benni McCarthy after finally admitting defeat in signing Mido.

I can confirm that any deal to sign the Egyptian is now dead in the water.

A deal was there to be done, but the terms offered to Rovers were too demanding, and the club has decided to look elsewhere.

Manager Mark Hughes will now turn his attention to McCarthy, who he has tracked for more than a year.

Rovers chairman John Williams told the Telegraph: "Mark is a great admirer of Benni McCarthy. He was one of our transfer targets last summer and we still admire him."

Reports that negotiations are already at an advanced stage though are premature.

McCarthy's agent, Rob Moore, says he has yet to be given the green light from Porto to begin talks with Rovers' representatives.

He said: "We are unaware if Porto are still negotiating with Blackburn, or if they have already agreed a deal.

"Neither Benni nor I have any knowledge of a proposal - you can't talk of contract offers when you do not know the state of negotiations between the two clubs.

"What I will say is that there are three parties and if all are satisfied then it is obvious the transfer will go through.

"If somebody is not satisfied, however, then Benni will stay at Porto."

Hughes wants to sign at least one more striker to add to the summer captures of Francis Jeffers and Jason Roberts.