New Zealand defender Ryan Nelsen is more than happy his Blackburn Rovers club have fended off bids for him from English premier league rivals.
Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp made a reported £4 million ($11.99 million) bid for the former All Whites skipper. For Nelsen, 28, that was the ultimate compliment and confirmed how highly Blackburn manager Mark Hughes rated the centre back.
"They put in a bid for me and Blackburn turned it down, and that's about it really," Nelsen told the Lancashire Telegraph. "We are in the Uefa Cup this year, it's an awesome club with a great manager, and I'm definitely really happy here."
Nelsen has not forgotten Hughes gave him his chance in the Premiership, and also believed Hughes' talent-spotting nous would help secure a classy striker to replace Craig Bellamy.
Nelsen said the addition of an experienced goal-getter would give Rovers the arsenal they need to be a force in the premiership and UEFA Cup.
"Obviously, any team would not be happy to lose a player like Bellamy, but who am I to say that?" Nelsen said. "The management know what they are doing and signing a striker is the number one thing they are after."
- NZPA
Soccer: Nelsen content at Rovers
Ryan Nelsen
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