FRENCH defender Sebastien Perez was en route back to England today and looked set to complete a long-running transfer saga by becoming Blackburn Rovers' fourth close-season signing.

I understand that Perez and his representatives left France early this morning and that the highly-rated Bastia player has agreed to a £3 million Ewood move.

The player will have to undergo the usual medical tests and there may be one or two minor details still to be settled before the transfer can finally be signed and sealed.

But it was a possibility that everything could be sorted out later today, adding Perez to Roy Hodgson's earlier summer signings, Kevin Davies, Darren Peacock and Jim Corbett.

Rovers, understandably, were not expected to make an official announcement until all parts of the transfer had been completed.

But I believe they are quietly confident of an imminent end to what has been a drawn-out and complex deal.

Marseille's interest in the player looked at one stage as though it might affect Rovers' chances but that has not proved to be the case and the French giants dropped out of the running. Perez, 24, is a former French under-21 international who joined Bastia from St Etienne.

He has played as the right-sided central defender in a three-man rearguard and also as a right back.

Very strong in the air, he is a player who likes to get forward and he grabbed nine goals for Bastia last season - the majority of them coming from headers at set pieces.

Providing there are no late hitches, the signing of Perez will take Hodgson's summer spending through the £10 million barrier.

With the possibility of players - mainly those who have been on the fringe of the first team - leaving Ewood before the start of the new season, Hodgson might feel he still needs more imports to strengthen his squad.

Southampton want to buy winger Stuart Ripley, who has yet to decide upon a move, though there has not been much interest shown so far in other players.

That could change next week when clubs start to report back for pre-season training.

At the moment, many managers are either on holiday or at the World Cup finals.

Meanwhile, Stephane Henchoz was married to girlfriend Catherine in Switzerland at the weekend.

Existing Ewood season-ticket holders have only until Saturday, July 4, to guarantee renewal of their own seats. Further details about season tickets can be obtained either by visiting the stadium or calling the hotline free on 0321-101010.

The 10 winners of the prize draw for fans who bought their season tickets before June 12 have now been announced.

Season ticket winners are: Mr D Croasdale (Salesbury), Mrs N Ashworth (Knuzden), Miss Natalie Dixon (Garstang), Mr P Lund (Blackburn), Miss Victoria Pilkington (Oswaldtwistle), Mr John Beckett (Darwen).

Signed shirt winners are: Mr K Morris (Blackburn), Master M Ellis (Burnley), Mr M Kelly (Darwen), Mrs D Hindle (Blackburn).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.