ROMA'S Martin Dahlin could be the first striker to be signed by new Blackburn Rovers boss Roy Hodgson.

And it emerged today that they have targeted Coventry City's number two goalkeeper John Filan as back-up to Tim Flowers.

The Ewood manager has been linked with Inter Milan's Chilean international Ivan Zamorano as Rovers fans wait and hope for a new star signing.

But reports in Sweden over the weekend claim that they are close to a £2.5 million deal with Italian giants Roma for Dahlin.

The Swedish international, a target for several clubs in the past including Rovers and Everton, is reported as saying that he had not seriously considered coming to the Premiership before.

But he knows Hodgson from the coach's time at Malmo, would be interested in linking up with him again and is "very flattered" at the Ewood interest.

The player's agent Claes Elefalk is said to be ready to hold talks with the Ewood club this week.

Dahlin is believed to be on £10,000 a week with Roma but could expect an even higher salary if he moved to England where, it seems, all the big money is these days.

Last week, Rovers denied that they had made a £6 million bid for Manchester United's Andy Cole.

And, at the weekend, one paper carried a report linking them with a move for Newcastle's Colombian striker Faustino Asprilla. It is the capture of at least one top man to supplement the attack that the fans are awaiting.

A source at Highfield Road, however, revealed that the next signing could well be keeper Filan, whose contract finishes today.

The Australian has been lined up to replace Shay Given at Ewood with a tribunal likely to be needed.

"Coventry will want £750,000 for him but he definitely seems to be going," said our source.

Filan cost them £300,000 from Cambridge and played 13 Premiership games the season before last when number one Steve Ogrizovic was injured.

Meanwhile, Rovers today played down a story that successful French club Auxerre are ready to pay £3 million for midfielder Billy McKinlay.

The Scot played a big part in helping the club to stave off the threat of relegation last season and Rovers said they had not heard anything from either Auxerre, or McKinlay, about a possible move.

All three Ewood representatives, Damien Duff, David Worrell and Tom Morgan were in the Republic of Ireland side which sprang another major surprise at the World Youth Championships by beating Spain 1-0 to reach the quarter finals.

Duff, given a Rovers debut in the final game of last season, is the only member of the squad to have started a Premiership fixture.

The Irish have never reached the last four of any tournament at world level before and they now go on to meet holders Argentina, who beat England in the previous round.

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