Blackburn money men put kibosh on Michel Salgado deal
Published 22:52 12/08/09 By By Alan Nixon
Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce has been blocked from signing Spanish legend Michel Salgado on a free transfer - by his club's money men.
Allardyce teed up the ambitious move for the former Real Madrid skipper and was pictured cheerfully wining and dining him when he flew in for talks.
But Salgado left without signing as Allardyce was told that he had to balance the books more - despite selling striker Roque Santa Cruz to Manchester City and only bringing in cut-price replacements.
Allardyce has also had to shelve cheap moves for French pair Jerome Rothen and Aurelien Capoue because of this surprise tightening of the Rovers belt.
However the Salgado affair has put a cloud over his plans for the season - with the 33-year-old exactly the type Allardyce loves to work with and give the chance of a successful end to their careers.
Rovers could afford all three potential recruits by selling Stephen Warnock to Aston Villa, but Allardyce is reluctant to trade the England hopeful - and hoped for the funds to bring in extra bodies.
