KEVIN Davies is set to be revealed as Blackburn Rovers' new record buy, writes NEIL BRAMWELL.

And I can reveal that Rovers expect to clinch another big-money deal next week.

Rovers will not confirm the Davies deal until the formalities are completed.

Chief executive John Williams said: "We are chasing a number of players and expect some action on more than one player in the next week."

But the 21-year-old Southampton wonderkid Davies is expected to be revealed at a Monday press conference at Ewood Park.

A figure of £7.5 million - widely quoted in today's national press - is slightly high with £7 million likely to be nearer the actual mark.

The deal will definitely be a new club record, beating the £5m paid by Kenny Dalglish for Chris Sutton.

Suggested wages of £1 million-a-year are also too high but Davies will sign a seven year contract.

Sheffield-born Davies has been keen for a move back to the north after suffering from homesickness on the south coast.

And it is a major coup for manager Roy Hodgson to snatch the former Chesterfield player, who joined Southampton for just £750,000, from under the noses of champions Arsenal. Southampton were reluctant to part with a player who has emerged as one of the Premiership's fast-rising stars.

But money has talked in the past, as was illustrated with the likes of England internationals Alan Shearer and Tim Flowers, who made big money moves to Ewood from The Dell.

Manager David Jones, however, is believed to have lined-up Crystal Palace's Matt Jansen as a £3.5 million replacement.

The second half of last season proved something of a disappointment for Davies with only a couple of League starts possible after damaging ankle ligaments against Manchester United in January.

But he scored a total of 12 goals throughout the season and winning the November Carling player of the month award.

There are unlikely to be any more pre-season games arranged by Rovers after finalising their plans to visit Sweden and play three more matches in England. Rovers will go to Sweden for nine days and play Roy Hodgson's old club Malmo on Monday, July 13 (kick-off 7pm). They will then go to Jonkoping on Saturday, July 18 (4pm).

The following Monday, July 20 (7pm), Rovers face Kristianstads FF.

Back home, they had already arranged to visit Wolves on Monday, July 27 (7.45pm), Ipswich the following Friday, July 31 (7.45pm), and entertain PSV Eindhoven at Ewood on Friday, August 7 (8pm).

Rovers are currently considering charitable or community project ideas so that maximum benefit can be gained from the £20,000 prize awarded for their supporters coming top of the Fair Play League for fans.

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