Stoke City are encouraging Blackburn Rovers to bid for James Beattie.

The Lancashire Telegraph says Stoke would welcome a Blackburn move for out-of-favour Beattie and would be tempted by a bid for the striker in the region of an initial £1million.

The Ewood Park outfit have already made tentative enquiries about bringing Beattie back to Rovers and Stoke City sources have confirmed they are hopeful Allardyce will swoop for the former Sheffield United man.

With boss Allardyce on holiday though, Rovers have yet to identify their preferred striking target, with the likes of Kris Boyd, Benjani and Frederic Piquionne joining Beattie on the club's wanted list.

Beattie, who started his career at his home town Blackburn Rovers in the mid 1990s, would jump at the chance to revive his top flight career in East Lancashire - and still lives within easy commuting distance of the club.