KEVIN Gallacher believes David Goodwillie can become an Ewood Park favourite as Blackburn Rovers close in on signing the Scottish starlet.

Goodwillie, 22, is in negotiations with Rovers about a move south of the border after Dundee United accepted a bid in the region of £2.8m, including add-ons, over the weekend.

He is now unlikely to undergo a medical at Blackburn’s Brockhall training ground until later in the week.

Rangers are still chasing the highly-rated Scottish international, having now had four bids turned down, while a number of other Premier League and Championship clubs are also tracking him with a deal yet to be finalised at the time of going to press last night.

Rovers boss Steve Kean was on his way back from Hong Kong last night, having watched his side end the Premier League Asia Trophy with a 3-0 win over Kitchee, and is expected to seal Goodwillie’s signing imminently.

Goodwillie’s agent Liam O’Donnell has admitted the player is now in talks with Rovers after being given permission to enter into negotiations, having withdrawn from Dundee United’s league match against Hearts yesterday.

With Serbian midfielder Radosav Petrovic just waiting for a work permit before sealing his Rovers move, Kean’s squad is beginning to take shape with the new Premier League season less than a fortnight away.

Having also started his career at Dundee United, Gallacher, who won the Premier League title with Rovers, knows what is takes to become a success in England - and insists Goodwillie’s probable move to Ewood could be the perfect match.

Gallacher said: “Of course not every player comes from Scotland and makes it in England but I believe Goodwillie has a great chance of being a big hit at Blackburn.

“I found that Blackburn Rovers is a great club to come to from Scotland.

"It is a hard working club, with a real team ethos, and the lads from Scotland appreciate that.

“You look over the years and Rovers have had a good experience with Scots and I believe it could prove the same with Goodwillie.”

Goodwillie was named young Scottish Player of the year last season with a string of virtuoso performances that had a plethora of English clubs in the race for his signature.

He has had his troubles off the field but the player will see a move to England as the chance to start afresh.

Gallacher said: “He is the type of player that can make things happen.

"Out of nothing he can change a game, as he showed in the 2010 Scottish Cup final win.

“He is a flair player who can create but he also has an eye for goal.

"I am surprised it has taken him this long to move on to be honest, because he has been watched for a long time.

“He has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons but coming to England will be a fresh start for him and there is no better club for him to make his name than Blackburn Rovers.

“He was always in the headlines in Scotland but here he will be a small fish in a big pond and that should help him be a success.”

Rovers striker Nikola Kalinic is expected to complete his switch to Ukraine side Dnipro early this week after a bid was accepted for the Croatian late last week.