ANDERS Andersson's move from Malmo to Ewood Park looks a definite starter and could be completed in the next couple of days.
The young Swedish midfielder was discussing personal terms with Blackburn Rovers today, after the club agreed a deal in principle with Malmo.
It is believed to be worth around half a million pounds.
There is still a possibility that Niklas Gudmundsson could return to Sweden as part of the transfer.
But, as manager Roy Hodgson revealed on his arrival at Ewood last week, he was prepared to find a solution either way.
If Gudmundsson wants to stay and fight for a place at Ewood, Hodgson said he would be welcome to do so and Rovers will arrange a straight cash payment.
On the other hand, Malmo would like to take him and, if he agrees, it will be done on a part-exchange basis.
Andersson, aged 23, is nearing the end of his contract and Malmo faced the prospect of losing him for nothing if he decided to move abroad. Aged 23, he is a Swedish international and plays an attacking midfield role.
He has already expressed a wish to join Rovers, where he believes Hodgson will give him a fair chance to show what he can do.
The Swedish League is currently on a mid-season break, so there is no problem with Andersson's fitness. But Rovers would clearly like to have him with them when they travel to Scandinavia tomorrow for their three-match pre-season tour.
Hopefully, personal terms can be agreed fairly quickly then the club can concentrate on their other Swedish target Martin Dahlin.
A fee of just under £2 million has been agreed with Dahlin's club AS Roma but Dahlin has still to agree a deal with Rovers.
I understand his agent has been involved in other transfers and that might have caused some delay. There is still optimism at Ewood that they will get their man but until things are signed and sealed you never know. Dahlin had previously been reluctant to move to England but has been tempted by the appointment of Hodgson, who is something of a mentor to the striker after working with him at Malmo.
Although he is a Roma player, Dahlin scored plenty of goals last season for Borussia Moenchengladbach, where he was on extended loan.
They too expressed an interest in signing him.
Dahlin is in Sweden at the moment. So if he does agree the move, he could easily link up with Rovers while they are on tour.
It remains to be seen whether there are to be any more incoming transfers, or if Rovers can unload players.
They have a very big squad and with most clubs reporting back for pre-season training at the moment, things might start to happen again.
Rovers have only one out-of-contract player, Paul Warhurst, but they would listen to offers for a number of players who will probably struggle to g+et a first team chance at Ewood in the coming season.
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