Blackburn chairman John Williams has revealed the club are monitoring Australia international Mark Bresciano, but insists a defensive midfielder is a priority.

Rovers could be lining up a move for Bresciano - an international colleague of Brett Emerton - after scouts watched the attack-minded Palermo midfielder in a pre-season friendly at the weekend.

Bresciano is also believed to be a target of Manchester City manager and former Blackburn boss Mark Hughes.

But Williams has confirmed current chief Paul Ince is interested in Bresciano, although a move for a holding player is likely come first.

"He's a player that Paul is monitoring but his absolute priority at the moment is a holding midfield player," Williams told the Lancashire Telegraph.

Bresciano, though, recently announced he is happy at Palermo and Blackburn could struggle in any attempt to convince the 28-year-old to leave Italy.

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