BLACKBURN Rovers have sensationally entered the race for Bolton Wanderers' highly-rated midfield star Alan Thompson.

Reports that there was a straight head-to-head battle between Aston Villa and Leeds United for the former England under-21 man have been blown apart by Rovers' stunning move.

Like their chief rivals in the chase for a player who has activated a clause in his contract following Bolton's relegation from the Premiership, Rovers can offer Thompson European football next season.

That could be a significant factor, so too could be the point that he would not have to move home again, if he was to agree to sign for Roy Hodgson at Ewood.

But Rovers may have ground to make up on the likes of Leeds and Villa - Leicester and Everton are also interested but seem to be lagging behind the others.

Understandably, Rovers are not saying too much at the moment.

But chief executive John Williams did confirm today: "Yes, we are interested and we are talking to Bolton."

A fee of between £4-5 million has been mentioned as the sort of price range that could net Thompson.

Apart from Villa and Leeds, Leicester have also been monitoring the situation but they could probably not match what would be on offer from the other clubs, including a place in the UEFA Cup next season.

Everton, who have failed in the past to back Howard Kendall with really big money, are understood to have a £3.7 million bid on the table. But that will almost certainly not be enough. Thompson was a shining light for Wanderers last season as they failed, for the second time, to cling onto their newly-won Premiership status.

He made 33 full League appearances and scored eight goals from midfield, some of them memorable such as his spectacular strike at Anfield.

Ironically, he saw red in the Ewood clash with Rovers, being sent off for a reckless challenge as Bolton were beaten 3-1.

The transfer has already been protracted and it could drag on for some time yet.

Thompson himself said he would like to think it could be sorted out this weekend but added: "I am not going to rush into anything."

Meanwhile, Rovers have certainly not yet given up on another of their transfer targets, Bastia defender Sebastien Perez.

As we revealed, the 24-year-old has had transfer talks with Marseille but it seems Rovers are still in the running.

Perez joined Bastia from St Etienne in 1996 and is a former French under-21 player.

He is highly rated back home in France as a player who likes to get forward from the back.

Mr Williams confirmed the club were still in talks with Bastia over a possible move, with a figure of around £3 million having been mentioned in French newspaper reports.

Stories that Anders Andersson is being hunted by IFK Gothenberg, however, have no foundation at the moment.

Rovers said today that they had not received any inquiries about the Swedish midfielder and sources in Gothenberg added that they did not believe the club were interested in him.

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