Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce continues to scour Europe and beyond in his search for a striker after conceding defeat in his bid to lure Ruud van Nistelrooy away from Real Madrid.

Allardyce knows he needs a proven centre-forward to replace Roque Santa Cruz, who he sold to Manchester City last month, and is exploring every possible option. However, he has accepted he probably would not be able to afford the wages of the 32-year-old Dutchman.

There is also the added complication of the former Manchester United player's fitness, as he missed much of last season with a knee injury and is not expected to return in time for the start of the Barclays Premier League campaign next month.

"I think probably Ruud, from a salary point of view, is out of our reach," he said. "And I think he is not going to be fit until September, so that is not going to be what we are looking for at the moment. We need someone right now who can join up with the squad as soon as we can."

Allardyce also denied he had made an approach for Portsmouth and England striker Peter Crouch - also on financial grounds. "We think he is probably out of our reach and bigger clubs than Blackburn will take him if Portsmouth decide they are going to sell him," he added. "No-one has said to me from Portsmouth that he is for sale so we haven't done anything from that point of view."

I've told everyone I want to secure the front man first - that is the most important thing - and then we can go from there.
Sam Allardyce

The Rovers boss also dismissed speculation linking Egypt striker Amr Zaki, who spent last season on loan at Wigan, with the club. Such is the priority to find competition for existing strikers Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts that Allardyce has remained in Lancashire while the rest of his squad have travelled to Austria for a training camp.

Ideally he would like to bring someone in sooner or later but he knows from experience that it may take time to bring in the right player. "We are continuing. Quality is one of the most important things we are looking for so I'm here instead of in Austria trying to secure new players," he added.

"We are searching high and low and although we have nothing nailed on we are trying very hard. I've told everyone I want to secure the front man first - that is the most important thing - and then we can go from there. There are lots of other players we could sign if we wanted but that is in abeyance at the moment. I think we will be successful in the end. We have got many opportunities throughout Europe with players that are available and we have to make sure we pick the right one."

Former Italy striker Christian Vieri has joined the squad in Austria as Allardyce assesses whether to take a gamble on a player who turns 36 on Sunday. The ex-Juventus and Milan forward is a free agent after leaving Atalanta and the Rovers boss is weighing up whether he can achieve what former France veteran forward Youri Djorkaeff did for him at Bolton seven years ago.

"We thought there was no harm in having the lad with us and seeing what condition he was in," he said. "There is no question of his ability, it is just about whether he can get himself to the level needed to compete in the Premier League.

"He has got a goal in that, perhaps if he can play somewhere this year, he could get in the World Cup squad next year. That is a great incentive for anyone. I had a player like that before in Djorkaeff. The only reason he came to Bolton was the French coach told him unless he got some first-team football he would not be included in the World Cup squad.

"We all know what he did. He was 36 at the time as well so if Christian, who is a terrific player and a great talent, has still got the self-motivation and dedication then fine. It is a bit of a long shot but there is no harm in it, at this time of year, looking at a top-quality player like him."