NORWEGIAN international Lars Bohinen could spark off Ray Harford's imminent spending spree by joining Blackburn Rovers from Nottingham Forest this week for £700,000.

The attacking midfield player is set to talk personal terms with Rovers, after they agreed to pay the fee that is written into a special clause in Bohinen's contract.

On today's market, Bohinen, 26, would probably be worth a couple of million pounds.

But, when he joined Forest for £450,000 from Henning Berg's former club Lillestrom two years ago, the fixed fee was included.

And it has left City Ground boss Frank Clark a bitterly disappointed man.

"There's not a deal I could do about it," he said today.

"It is something I have been afraid would happen for some time. It's very disappointing and I hope he doesn't go.

"But I think he will.

"Blackburn have agreed to meet the price and Lars wants to hear what they have to say."

Bohinen would not be able to play against Swindon tomorrow night - he is cup tied - nor can he play in the Champions' League. But Rovers need to carry out extensive rebuilding of their squad and this, hopefully, will be a start.

Bohinen, known for his attacking qualities, scored the second goal against England for Norway when our 1994 World Cup hopes were destroyed in Oslo.

He has played 65 League games for Forest, scoring nine goals. For Norway, he has 38 caps and has scored eight goals.

Also believed to be high on Rovers' wanted list is Dundee United's Scottish international midfielder Billy McKinlay.

Capped 15 times, he can play either central or on the right.

Scottish sources claim a bid of £1.6 million is imminent for a player who scored a hat-trick in Saturday's Tayside derby. John Collins, of Celtic, is another hot-Scot possibility but Middlesbrough seem to be leading that chase with late interest from Chelsea.

Kenny Dalglish recently took in another Scottish game, featuring Dunfermline, when it is thought he was watching their full back Jackie McNamara.

Crystal Palace have come under scrutiny too with Chris Coleman the likely target.

Palace, incidentally, are understood to be keen on Lee Makel, with Huddersfield also looking at him.

On the injury front, the news about Shay Given is not as bad as first feared.

The number three keeper, suspected to have a broken arm, seems to have got away with bruising and soft tissue damage and shouldn't be out too long.

Harford, meanwhile, is considering using Chris Sutton as sweeper again tomorrow night in the Coca-Cola Cup tie with Swindon.

But he stressed it was not a permanent move for the £5 million striker.

"I don't see it long term at all," he said. "But Chris is happy to do it for us and I thought he was one of our better players on Saturday.

"It seemed to be a freshener for him."

**Rovers Reserves, fielding only two players with any League experience, held a very strong-looking Oldham 3-3 at Deepdale last night. But they should have won. Michael Holt scored from the penalty spot and James Beattie raced through to finish well in the next minute.

But Darren Beckford pulled one back on the stroke of half time and an own goal plus one from Ian Olney put Oldham 3-2 ahead.

Beattie (71 mins) made it 3-3 and Rovers should have wrapped it up in a strong finish.

**Rovers' goalkeeper crisis meant that Terry Gennoe was on duty last night - at the age of 42! He was on the subs' bench.

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