BLACKBURN Rovers boss Mark Hughes is set to ward off interest in his star defender Ryan Nelsen by offering the Kiwi a bumper new contract.

The 28-year-old stopper, who was a key component in Rovers' success last season, has already been the subject of one unsuccessful bid by big-spending Portsmouth this summer.

Now Hughes is eager to block any further attempts to lure Nelsen away from Ewood Park by handing the New Zealand international a lucrative new deal, which would put him on a par with some of the club's highest earners.

When asked about the prospect of opening talks with Nelsen, Rovers' chairman, John Williams, told the Telegraph: "That's something we are looking at."

Nelsen has been a revelation for Rovers since he joined the club on a free transfer from Major League side DC United 18 months ago.

At the time, the All Whites skipper was a relative unknown, but he has since established himself as one of the most consistent defenders in the Premiership, prompting Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp to table an offer of £4 million for his services last week.

However, that bid was quickly rejected by the Rovers board on the advice of Hughes, and the club are now set to offer Nelsen new, improved terms to reflect his standing within the squad.

It will be the New Zealander's second pay rise in a year; he only signed a three-year contract last summer after the club upped his salary in recognition of the way he exceeded initial expectations.

But Hughes wants to be fair to a player who could conceivably have doubled his wages by moving to Portsmouth.