Big Sam plays down Pedersen talk

Big Sam plays down Pedersen talk

Published Dec. 14, 2009 8:36 p.m. ET

Pedersen is reported to be interested in a move to the Scottish giants after falling out of favour at Ewood Park, but Allardyce insists nobody has been in contact with him about any of his players. "I've had no enquiries for my players at this moment," Allardyce said. "Someone has whispered in my ear about the first bit of speculation, that Morten is going to Celtic. "We're going to get the normal chip paper flying around in the next few weeks." Pedersen was an unused substitute in Rovers' goalless draw at Hull on Saturday and has struggled for form this season. The Norway midfielder's current deal with Blackburn runs out at the end of the season, but Allardyce said now was not the time for contract negotiations. "We're not in a contract sort of mood at the moment - I'm certainly not," Allardyce said. "Talking about contracts and talking about ins and outs at this stage of the season - we've got a massive December coming up and a massive January and the distractions that come our way can destroy what you do on the field of play. "So I want to keep as far away from that as we possibly can and cover it when we are good and ready and consider it to be the right time." Another player thought to be unsettled at the club is striker Benni McCarthy, and Allardyce admitted he would move for a new striker in January if the South African did decide to leave. "It has been documented that Benni has not been playing enough and that he is not quite as settled as he would perhaps prefer because he's not playing enough," Allardyce said. "So whether some of that does happen in that area, who knows? Then we would move into the market for somebody else. "But there are four strikers at our club at the moment and we are not in a position to take any more on than that financially. "We are comfortable with the squad as a whole at the moment and I think the biggest thing is hanging on to our best players. "That would be the biggest worry for me in the transfer window, rather than bringing somebody in."

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