BLACKBURN Rovers manager Mark Hughes believes his club is an attractive proposition to leading players.

Hughes has already made four signings this summer, including strikers Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts, and he is heading the chase to land Dutch World Cup defender Andre Ooijer from PSV Eindhoven.

And that's just a sign of the times for the Ewood boss, who helped rejuvenate Craig Bellamy's career before a move to Liverpool last month.

Hughes, whose side face Sparta Rotterdam tomorrow night in Holland, said: "I think people are now starting to understand what we can offer here.

"The football grapevine can be a good thing and a bad thing, but I think the word has got out that the work we do here enables people to develop as football players and I think we're more attractive in that respect.

"Certainly European football and the attraction of that has helped this summer as well.

"But I just think people understand what we have here now.

"We've got great facilities, I'd like to think a good manager, great coaches, good back-up from all departments at the club, and everything is geared to make players better, and that will always be an attraction for footballers."

Franny Jeffers is one of the players hoping to get his career back on track, and the attraction of working with Hughes was a major factor in his free transfer move to Ewood.

And fellow striker McCarthy will be looking to build on his debut goal against Aachen on Saturday.

"Obviously, you have to sell the club to these guys," said Hughes.

"They have to understand what we can offer and that is part and parcel of the negotiation process.

"We've been successful this season in that respect and we hope that will continue.

"We've had a decent year this year and other years won't be as fruitful, I'm sure.

"But I'm happy enough."