Soccer: Nelsen offered Blackburn contract - reports

All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen has been offered a permanent contract with English Premier League soccer club Blackburn Rovers, according to newspaper reports.

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph reported yesterday Blackburn manager Mark Hughes would sign the former Christchurch United defender.

Blackburn Rovers would "complete the free transfer signing" of Nelsen when the English transfer window opened on January 1, the newspaper reported.

"(Nelsen) has made enough of an impression during a two-week trial to persuade Hughes to offer him a permanent contract," it said.

Nelsen's United States-based agent, Lyle Yorks, was quoted in radio reports today as saying details still needed to be worked out - including Nelsen's UK work permit - before a deal was signed.

Nelsen officially ends his four-year contract with the Washington club, DC United, on December 31.

He recently captained United to their fourth Major League Soccer championship in nine seasons and the defender was also named in the league's 11 for the second consecutive year.

Nelsen will become the first New Zealander to sign for an English Premier League club since fellow All Whites centre-back Danny Hay left Leeds United in 2002.

The Telegraph quoted Hay as backing his compatriot to be a big success at Ewood Park.

"He's a top player who has been doing very well at DC United," Hay said.

"It's now or never for him at 27, and I think with the side Blackburn has at the moment, he's got a good show of playing regularly."

Blackburn are struggling this season, with just two wins from 17 matches to sit 18th on the league table, ahead of just Southampton and West Bromwich Albion.

- NZPA