Rovers to satisfy the ambitious Emerton

John Edwards

Last updated at 00:00 07 July 2003

BRETT EMERTON will fulfil his dream of becoming a Premiership player today when Blackburn confirm that they have completed a Pounds 2.75million deal to take him to Ewood Park.

Rovers manager Graeme Souness has wasted no time dipping into the proceeds from the sale of David Dunn and will announce in the next 24 hours that he has secured Emerton for 4m euros.

Souness said: 'I've been interested in Brett since I saw him do well against Scotland a couple of years ago. I've been watching him regularly and was aware of the number of clubs who like him.' Blackburn have seen o f f competition from Aston Villa, Middlesbrough, Tottenham and Newcastle for the versatile Feyenoord midfielder after agreeing to meet Emerton's personal terms of over Pounds 20,000 a week.

Following the departures of Dunn and Keith Gillespie, Souness is relieved at reinforcing his depleted midfield with a topquality recruit and convinced he has landed a bargain after Leeds were told, barely a year ago, that the Australian, 24, would cost Pounds 8m.

Emerton is elated at achieving a lifetime ambition of playing in the Premiership.

'I have never made any secret of my longing to play for a top English club,' he said. 'I have had some great times at Feyenoord, but they know the Premiership has always been my goal. That has been the dream for me, and I hope it is about to come true.' Several Premiership sides have been linked with Emerton, most recently Aston Villa after former Leeds boss David O'Leary revived his interest in a player who can operate anywhere across midfield or in defence.

But with Villa unable to compete on wages, Blackburn counterpart Souness took his opportunity to set up a deal that will become official in the next day or so.

Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce will pledge his future to the club this week by signing a five-year contract that will keep him at St Andrew's until the summer of 2008. The new deal is worth around Pounds 3m to Bruce, who has enjoyed a golden spell in charge at the club since being appointed in December 2001.

He guided Birmingham to promotion via the playoffs six months after taking over and last season - their first in the topflight for 16 years - saw his side finish an impressive 13th. Bruce agreed the new deal at an endofseason meeting with the club's owners and will put pen to paper following his return from holiday.

Millwall have entered the race to sign Crewe's Rob Hulse after holding talks with the Pounds 1mrated striker's representatives.

Hulse refuses to be rushed into a decision after also attracting bids from Cardiff, West Bromwich Albion, Wigan and Norwich.

j.edwards@dailymail.co.uk SOUTHAMPTON and Manchester City are prepared to offer Fitz Hall, 22, a move into the Premiership after Everton stalled over Oldham's Pounds 500,000 asking price.

Southampton boss Gordon Strachan has lodged an initial bid, believed to be Pounds 250,000 with instalments to follow, while City counterpart Kevin Keegan has identified the centre back as an investment for the future.

Cardiff manager Lennie Lawrence has also contacted crisis club Oldham with an offer.

EVERTON have been quoted a prohibitive Pounds 7million for Fulham's Sean Davis.

Goodison Park boss David Moyes confirmed his interest in Davis over the weekend and is determined to instal him as Everton's new midfield linchpin, despite Fulham's resistance.

Moyes will attempt to negotiate a compromise fee of between Pounds 3.5m and Pounds 4m, acceptable to Everton's cash-strapped board.