Blackburn Rovers remain locked in new contract talks with Benni McCarthy, Stephen Warnock and Morten Gamst Pedersen.

"We're not at an advanced stage with any of the players, but there are no stumbling blocks," Rovers chairman John Williams said. "Mark (Hughes) believes it's the best squad he's had in his time here and he wants to build on it but keep as many of the lads as we can.

"I hope it's not blasé to say the grass isn't always greener and there are not many players who have left here in my time that would say they didn't enjoy their time here. It's a good club that's in the top half of the Premier League, but how long we can hold on to certain players remains to be seen.

"We set our stall out to keep our top players because we think we're a good club and a good place for them to play their football."