Blackburn Rovers boss Paul Ince met with David Bentley last week in an effort to convince the England winger to stay at Ewood Park.

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph says less than 24 hours after taking up his new position in the Ewood hot-seat, Ince met Bentley for a heart-to-heart chat at Rovers' Brockhall training ground, and during those discussions both parties made their respective positions crystal clear.

Bentley told the Rovers boss he is still intent on leaving the club this summer, claiming he needs to be playing for a club in Europe to enhance his chances of cementing a regular place with England.

However, Ince then spelled out his position by telling the 23-year-old he wants to keep him at Ewood for at least another 12 months, and stressed he would only consider selling if a club in the top four came in with a 'ridiculous' offer.