DION Dublin was talking to Blackburn Rovers today as a potential £6 million transfer for the England international moved a step closer to reality.

Both clubs finally came out to in the open to officially admit one of the game's worst-kept secrets, that they are discussing a deal.

Rovers secretary Tom Finn confirmed: "We are in negotiations with Coventry. They are not finalised but we are making progress."

And Coventry boss Gordon Strachan went further than that when he revealed there was a special clause in the player's contract.

It means that if a bid of more than £5 million is received, Dublin has to be told about it AND given permission to speak to the interested club.

Rovers' formal bid of around £6 million has triggered that situation.

"There has been contact from Blackburn and an offer has been made," said Strachan.

"Yes, we are considering it, but we have to make sure the deal is right for the club.

"Dion is thinking about it."

Coventry have a Worthington Cup tie at Luton tonight and it is not yet known whether Dublin will play.

If he was to be left out that should be a signal of Rovers' progress in their talks.

And Coventry sources expect a further statement from their club after that game.

Rovers seem to be in the driving seat but they could still be some way from concluding a deal.

Even if their bid proves acceptable to Coventry, there are still personal terms to be negotiated and Dublin will not come cheap. But that is the price you have to pay these days to tempt a club's best players away.

Dublin was 29 in April and has been a key figure for Coventry since joining them from Manchester United.

His scoring average is not far short of a goal every two games and he has also played at centre back with distinction - a real two-in-one footballer.

The fact that Rovers are willing to invest so much money, in terms of both transfer fee and salary, for a 29-year-old player is also encouraging given the understandable criticism that they would only chase younger men with a future resale value.

And Rovers are also adamant that, if they succeed in bringing in a player of Dublin's stature to Ewood, it will be to join Chris Sutton in the squad - definitely not the prelude to a big-money exit.

Sutton himself, in fact, would welcome the addition of someone like Dublin to the squad.

It would also be the kind of experienced, established signing that skipper Tim Sherwood was talking about recently.

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