One of the Sunday tabloids claimed manager Mark Hughes has told the Rovers board he plans to target the Bolton striker when the transfer window opens next month.

The article even suggested Hughes may be prepared to sacrifice leading scorer Benni McCarthy to help finance a deal for the Frenchman, who has also been linked with moves to Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea, and would cost a fee in the region of £10 million.

However, a senior boardroom source has told the Lancashire Telegraph the club has no plans to move for Anelka in January.

The source said: "Nicolas Anelka's name has been mentioned in the past, along with many others, but there are no plans to make a move for him next month, and we have no intention of selling Benni McCarthy either."