BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes is hoping to persuade Ryan Nelsen to sign a new deal before the new Premiership season kicks off next weekend.

After rejecting three separate bids from Portsmouth for Nelsen, Rovers are keen to ward off further interest in their star defender by tying him to a new long-term contract.

Talks have already taken place between the two parties and Rovers are hopeful an agreement can be reached before next Saturday's Premiership opener which, ironically, is against Pompey at Fratton Park.

"Despite the fact Ryan already has a contract which still has a substantial period to run, we are in the process of offering him a new one and some progress has been made," said Rovers' chairman John Williams.

"If we're going to turn down decent money for him, which we have done, then the emphasis is on us to improve his present deal.

"We believe that's the right and honourable thing to do, so hopefully we'll be in a position to announce something shortly."

Rovers are believed to have rejected an offer of more than £5 million from Portsmouth for Nelsen, who joined the club for nothing 18 months ago upon his release from DC United.

Pompey were also ready to offer the Kiwi a big wage rise, which is why Rovers are now trying to thrash out a new deal as some form of compensation for the fact he could have earned more had he moved to the south coast club.

Of more pressing concern to Hughes is the need to get to the route of the niggling hamstring injury that has prevented Nelsen from featuring in any of Rovers' pre-season warm-up games to date.

The 28-year-old was expected to be absent for this afternoon's friendly with his native New Zealand at Ewood Park.