ROVERS keeper Alan Kelly could be on his way to Spurs as transfer activity begins to hot up at Ewood Park.

Tottenham want the Republic of Ireland international to replace Ian Walker, who is set to leave White Hart Lane this summer.

Glen Hoddle sees Kelly as the ideal replacement to provide top quality competition for the number one shirt with Scottish international Neil Sullivan.

The Spurs boss is lining up a bid, thought to be for around £600,000, and provided Kelly can agree terms with the Premiership club, and is happy to move as a number two, then his Rovers days are set to come to an end.

Rovers chief executive John Williams confirmed: "There is an interest and a deal might happen this week."

Blackburn will recoup the fee they paid Sheffield United for Kelly's services in November, 1999 if the deal goes ahead.

The 32-year-old went straight into the Rovers side under Brian Kidd after replacing John Filan between the posts.

He also started last season as first choice but then saw Filan regain the keeper's jersey before Graeme Souness signed Brad Friedel last November as his new number one.

Since Friedel's arrival, Rovers have been looking to trim their goalkeeping staff, which also includes Alan Miller, and Souness was ready to sell either Kelly or Filan.

Kelly was also keen to move to play first-team football in a bid to enhance his international prospects with a potential World Cup finals place around the corner for the Irish.

The keeper is certain to relish the chance of a fresh start and while a move to Tottenham is unlikely to earn him an instant first-team place, it would move him one place up the pecking order with a top-flight club.

Boss Graeme Souness admitted that the arrival of Friedel had left Kelly in an unfortunate position and having sanctioned a move for one of the back-up keepers will look to the other to compete with the big American.

He said: "Alan Kelly, Alan Miller and John Filan have been unlucky. I got the chance to get Brad, who was someone I'd worked with before and I felt could improve the goalkeeping situation.

"I got Brad on a great deal and unfortunately for keepers they can't play in another position.

"It makes sense to let one move on, but in the same breath, I can't let them all go."

The Rovers squad reported back for pre-season training today with new signings Corrado Grabbi and Gordon Greer set to link up with their new team-mates for the first time.

Further transfer movement in and out of Ewood Park is likely to follow shortly, although reported moves for Alaves defender Oscar Tellez and Arsenal youngster Rohan Ricketts are wide of the mark.