BLACKBURN Rovers manager Mark Hughes could be handed a £1 million transfer bonus when the window opens in three days' time.

James Beattie's imminent departure from Southampton is likely to net Rovers a seven-figure windfall.

And I can reveal that money WILL be handed straight to Hughes to enable him to further strengthen his squad in the January sales.

When Rovers agreed to sell Beattie to the Saints for £1 million six years ago, they insisted on a 20 per cent sell-on clause being written into the deal.

Now they are hoping to activate that in the next few days with Beattie set to leave St Mary's in a £6 million deal.

Saints boss Harry Redknapp last night confirmed that three separate Premiership clubs have all lodged bids for the England striker.

Aston Villa, Everton and Newcastle are all thought to be leading the chase for the 26-year-old and with Rovers entitled to 20 per cent of any fee above the £1 million Southampton originally paid for him, that could add up to a sizeable bonus for Hughes at a crucial time in the season.

Rovers had already vowed to give the Welshmen every spare penny they have to strengthen his squad during the window but the Beattie money is an unexpected bonus and it may well enable Hughes to sign an extra player.

The one complication could be if Southampton accept some kind of player exchange deal for the former Blackburn striker but Rovers are monitoring the situation closely.

Hughes has already completed one deal for South African international captain Aaron Mokoena and the Genk defender will officially become a Blackburn player on January 4.

Rovers have agreed to pay £300,000 for the 24-year-old, who will sign a two and a half year deal with his new club.

In the meantime, Rovers boosted their survival bid with a magnificent 1-0 victory at Bolton yesterday.

Paul Dickov's seventh minute goal provided Rovers with their first top-flight win at Bolton in 40 years and Hughes was delighted with the way his players applied themselves.

"We deserved more than one goal considering the number of chances we created.