BLACKBURN Rovers last night launched a bid for Spurs and England keeper Paul Robinson after accepting an offer for Brad Friedel.

Rovers made the move after agreeing a deal, believed to be with Aston Villa, worth an initial £2million fee but that could rise by a further £500,000.

But any deal for the former American international is subject to Rovers boss Paul Ince being able to sign a suitable replacement.

Ince, who is in Portugal preparing his squad for back-to-back friendlies with Benfica and Sporting Lisbon in the Guadiana Cup, now faces a race against time to fill the void left by Friedel.

The Lancashire Telegraph believes that Rovers have made a straight-cash bid for Robinson and are awaiting a response.

But Spurs, who have already had a bid turned down for David Bentley, may try to lump Robinson in with a deal for the England midfielder star, and that could muddy the waters.

Whoever comes in, they will have big shoes to fill as Friedel prepares to leave Ewood Park – probably for Villa Park.

A statement from Rovers last night read: “Blackburn Rovers have accepted a bid from a Premier League club for goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

“The transfer is conditional to Rovers having a bid for a goalkeeper at another club accepted.”

Aston Villa are believed to be leading the chase for Friedel’s signature after Martin O’Neill allowed loan keeper Scott Carson to leave and sign for Midlands rivals West Brom.

But new Manchester City boss Mark Hughes has also expressed an interest in the man who was his number one choice throughout his four-year tenure at Ewood Park.

But if Friedel has played his last game for Blackburn, he will leave a legacy that few will ever match.

Graeme Souness signed Friedel in 2000 on a free transfer from Liverpool and he quickly established himself as one of the Premier League's top performers.

He was part of the team that lifted the Worthington Cup at Cardiff in 2002 and holds the record for most consecutive Premier League starts with 175.

In the last couple of seasons, Friedel has become on of the league's most consistent performers and in February this year signed a new two-year deal.

In total, Friedel has made a total of 356 appearances for Rovers, scoring one goal - in the 3-2 defeat to Charlton at The Valley in February 2004.