London, June 14: Blackburn Rovers boss Graeme Souness said yesterday that fellow premiership side Birmingham City are close to agreeing a 5.5-million-pound (9.2-million-dollar) deal for England midfielder David Dunn.
"Birmingham have come back in for David Dunn and the two clubs are close to a deal," Souness told reporters. "We've had a few enquiries for him but Birmingham are the one club who have made a firm bid."
Dunn fell out with Souness last season, but the manager said he would be happy for the player to remain at Ewood Park and help the team in its UEFA Cup bid next season.
"If no deal is actually agreed with another club, he will have to take that on the chin and return to us. We would have no problem with that because he is a very good player."
The money from the sale of Dunn could help finance a deal for Rangers' experienced defender Lorenzo Amoruso although Souness added that the would not be pursuing a move for Aston Villa's Turkish centre-Half Alpay.



"We inquired about Alpay, but Aston Villa were asking for too much," said Souness. "We have agreed terms with Rangers for Amoruso and I'm very hopeful we will do something there after I have spoken to him in the next seven days."


Bureau Report