Blackburn Rovers are weighing up whether to make a third and final bid for the Dutch defender Andre Ooijer.

Further discussions took place between Rovers officials and PSV Eindhoven yesterday, but the Dutch club seem determined to price the 32-year-old out of a move to the Premiership, despite the player's protestations.

Ooijer feels that, after eight and a half years' service, he deserves the chance to play in England, and he cannot understand why PSV are demanding a fee in the region of £3 million when they were prepared to sell him for less than half that amount 12 months ago.

Speaking at the weekend, the Dutchman said: "I have made up my mind that I would like to join Blackburn Rovers and I am excited by the prospect of playing under Mark Hughes.

"Unfortunately, the obstacle in the way is PSV Eindhoven.

"They are asking for quite a considerable sum from Blackburn Rovers and, after eight and a half years loyal service, I am disappointed that they are standing in the way of a dream transfer.

"I only have one-year left on my contract and last summer the club were happy to negotiate my transfer to Schalke for a fee of just 1.5 million.

"I did not go to Germany for personal reasons. I am astonished that one year later, they are asking for considerably more, when in reality I would have thought the figure would have been lower than was agreed last year, as I am one year older and have only one year left on my contract."

Hughes could do with some extra defensive cover going into the new season as Ryan Nelsen is struggling to shake off a hamstring problem, and Zurab Khizanishvili has a groin problem.

On top of that, Dominic Matteo also missed Saturday's friendly with New Zealand due to a groin injury, while Andy Todd failed to complete the game due to a similar problem, but both should be fit in time to face Portsmouth.