BLACKBURN Rovers have beaten treble-winning Manchester United in the chase for the signature of one of the most highly-rated young players in the North West.

Fourteen-year-old midfielder Jerome Watt has been snapped up from Preston North End, where he had been on schoolboy forms.

And a double swoop was completed as Rovers picked up goalkeeper David Stevenson, also 14, from Blackpool and another player who is believed to have had his pick of the top clubs in the North.

The two signings represent a real triumph for Academy director Bobby Downes and his staff.

For United boss Alex Ferguson is believed to have taken a personal interest in taking Watt to Old Trafford - so intent were the champions on adding him to their ranks.

But Rovers have won the race and settled a five-year deal with the youngster.

Stevenson has accepted a similar deal and Downes said: "He was so impressed by what he saw when he came for trials that he didn't even bother going anywhere else."

Rovers had to wait until the second Saturday in May before they could even offer trials to the boys as they were on under-14 forms with their clubs.

But Downes believes the wait could be well worthwhile, as Watt's skills have been eyed enviously by many clubs.

Both North End and Blackpool are likely to be upset at losing their prize assets but Downes said: "We have played it by the book and done nothing wrong.

"A lot of hard work has gone into this and it involves everybody, including groundsman Steve Patrick. He made sure we could have Ewood available to us for the trials. We even had the giant TV screen on for the boys and all these things add up.

"It is very competitive these days, because the top young players usually do the rounds and can take their pick." "So we are delighted to have been successful with these two."

Rovers will probably have to pay a nominal amount of compensation to their clubs for the time the players have spent with them.

But that is likely to add up to only a few thousand pounds.

The whole issue of compensation for young players is currently being debated but, at the moment, it increases depending on the age of the boys concerned.

Rovers, for example, took Ben Burgess from Everton at 16 and would have had to pay more for him.

Ewood interest in Steve Harkness, who is expected to leave Benfica this summer, appears to have cooled.

But the possibility of them still making a move for the former Liverpool defender cannot be ruled out.

He looks certain to follow Graeme Souness out of the Stadium of Light and Rovers will probably continue to monitor the situation.

George Donis will be lining up against Rovers next season - for Huddersfield Town.

The Greek international winger has moved to Huddersfield from AEK Athens on a Bosman free transfer. But the deal, with a three-year contract, is costing the First Division club more than £1 million.

Donis becomes new Town boss Steve Bruce's first signing and he is expected to make several more.

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