David Dunn predicts top ten spot for Blackburn Rovers while Nikola Kalinic looks set for exit

He also believes that with a strengthened squad and a good start to the season, Rovers might even be able to get a European spot.

Dunn said: “If we keep strengthening, get a few more players in there’s no reason why we can’t finish top 10.

“Who knows, if we start well and end well, there’s no reason why we can’t finish a little bit higher.

The midfielder, who came through the youth academy at Rovers before a brief spell with Birmingham, admitted that the club would benefit from acquiring some extra squad depth this summer.

“I think it would be great for competition to bring in a real hungry striker that can score some goals and maybe a centre midfielder with a bit of experience as well.”

Blackburn have already lost Phil Jones from defence and Jermaine Jones from midfield after the german’s loan contract expired.

Dunn was speaking after Blackburn’s 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa in the Barclays’ Asia Trophy in Hong Kong.

He continued: “Last night I thought we played pretty well. In the humid conditions it was difficult, the pitch was little bit difficult at times, all in all that was somewhere near their first XI and we’re still looking to add to our team.

“I feel pretty confident about this season, not over-confident but all the lads fitness-wise are really good and training’s been going really well. I think if we can keep improving we’ll be okay.”

A striker may be top of Blackburn’s wish-list but it seems that one of their forwards is set to leave the club.

Nikola Kalinic’s agent Tomislav Erceg has described the striker as being in a ‘crazy situation’ after he was left out of Blackburn’s squad for the trip to Hong Kong amid rumours of a £6 million bid from Ukrainian side, Dnipro.

Erceg told the Lancashire Telegraph: “We have our fingers crossed something will happen in the next couple of days but we just don’t know.

“It has gone on a for a long time and nothing has been sorted

“Nikola just wants to play football. It is a crazy situation because it looks impossible for him to play football at Blackburn.”