BLACKBURN Rovers could face stiff competition from Arsenal if they decide to move in on Southampton's young striking sensation Kevin Davies, writes PETER WHITE.

Most of the speculation so far has centred on previous Ewood interest in the Dell's Norwegian front man Egil Ostenstad - and Rovers have asked about him in the past.

But there is concern on the South coast that Davies is now attracting unwanted attention.

Roy Hodgson might well switch his interest to the 21-year-old striker who made a name for himself in the Premiership last season, even though it would be a major challenge to snatch the former Chesterfield player.

Sources in Southampton say that double winners Arsenal are keeping a close watch on Davies's situation and they would be 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.

The second half of the 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.

He had already done enough, however, to show that he has what it takes to succeed. Meanwhile, Steve Staunton looks set to leave Aston Villa for Liverpool next week, despite reported interest in the national Press from Rovers.

Staunton has told Villa he is definitely leaving - his contract expires at the end of next month - and the Bosman ruling means he will be able to take up a lucrative offer to return to Anfield after nearly seven years in the midlands.

Ewood chairman Robert Coar and chief executive John Williams were in Leicester today for the two-day annual meeting of the Premier League.

Pay-per-view is expected to dominate tomorrow's discussions with controversial suggestions that could see an end to Saturday football in the Premiership in the next couple of years.

Experiments, such as moving a number of Saturday games to Sundays for pay-per-view look set to start next season.

Rovers leave for Switzerland tomorrow, to take part in an international youth tournament in Naters. A number of the team who reached the finals of both the FA Youth Cup and the Lancashire FA Youth Cup will be involved and they will face top-class opposition.

Borussia Dortmund, Grasshopper (Zurich) and NAC Breda are in the same group as Rovers.

The squad is: Stewart, Bingham, D Dunning, Scates, Dunn, Howson, R Dunning, Topley, Connolly, Richardson, Hawe, Lawless, Murphy, Baldacchino, Whittle, Hamilton.

Previous sport story

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.