Blackburn Rovers are chasing the 'new Patrick Vieira'.

The Lancashire Telegraph says France youth international Steven Nzonzi is being watched by Sam Allardyce's scouting network, with the club contemplating making a bid for him to help ease their midfield worries.

Nzonzi, 20, was part of the Amiens side that were relegated from Ligue 2 but has shown enough to suggest he could be the 'box-to-box' midfielder Rovers are searching for.

His Amiens contract runs until the end of the 2010/11 season and could cost somewhere in the region of 500,000 euros, although he remains just of one several midfielders being tracked by Rovers.

West Ham and Newcastle United were linked with the 6ft 2ins youngster last summer with French experts comparing his style to former Arsenal man Patrick Vieira.