Sussex are keen to sign Kent batsman Alex Blake in a bid to improve their white-ball fortunes.

Blake is out of contract at Canterbury at the end of the season and Sussex are understood to have offered him a two-year deal.

The 26-year-old has caught the eye in limited overs cricket this season, averaging 53 in the Royal London One-Day Cup and 38 in the NatWest T20 Blast.

The left-hander – who also bowls right-arm medium – hit an unbeaten 52 from 32 balls to steer Kent to victory against Sussex at Hove in July and offered a reminder of his ability with 97 not out against Sussex 2nd XI last month.

Sussex have identified Blake as one of their main targets as they attempt to revamp a side which failed to win any of their eight games in the Royal London One-Day Cup this year.

The Sharks have under-performed in limited overs cricket for the last three seasons with the exception of reaching the quarter-finals of the NatWest T20 Blast this summer.

Blake’s powerful batting displays this season – he boasts a strike rate of 167 in T20 this season and 123 in 50-over cricket – are likely to have brought him to the attention of a number of counties but Sussex are hoping the chance to bat up the order will convince him to make the move to Hove.