BLACKBURN Rovers are chasing in-demand Blues defender Scott Dann – but they will not get the club’s prized asset on the cheap.

Contrary to reports, the Premier League strugglers have not agreed a fee for the 24-year-old but they are hoping to clinch a deal before the transfer window shuts tonight. Dann’s future has been the subject of intense speculation all summer and his expected exit from St Andrew’s is likely to go all the way to the wire as other clubs are still interested.

A flurry of other transfer activity involving Blues is also likely to unfold over the course of the day.

Strikers Nikola Zigic and Cameron Jerome are on a number of clubs’ radar while Chris Hughton is hoping to strengthen his squad, with Coventry duo Ben Turner and Lucas Jutkiewicz high on his wish list.

The chance of Dann moving to one of the Premier League’s big boys appears to be fading fast, though, as Arsenal and Liverpool – clubs who have previously registered an interest – have pursued other options. S

toke also saw a move for the centre-back fall through but have since signed Jonathan Woodgate and Matthew Upson, leaving Blackburn and QPR to battle it out for his signature.

However, the drama of transfer deadline-day could throw up more surprises with a number of top-flight clubs battling to hold on to their key performers.

Rovers boss Steve Kean has lost Phil Jones this summer to Manchester United and he sees Dann, who the club have bid for, as the ideal replacement.

Kean knows all about the Liverpool-born star from his Coventry days when he was assistant manager to Chris Coleman.