THE German international Oliver Bierhoff may well become the first high profile foreign player to be lured to Blackburn Rovers by the prospect of playing under the Lancashire club's new coach, Sven Goran Eriksson.
Just three months after the gifted striker rejected the chance of a move to Ewood Park, he has, by way of his representatives, reopened lines of communication between himself and Blackburn officials.
The news that one of European football's most accomplished forwards is unsettled and considering his long term future will certainly interest Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, a long time admirer of Bierhoff's abilities.
Bierhoff, who scored Germany's "golden goal" winner in last summer's European Championship final against the Czech Republic at Wembley, currently pays for the leading Italian club Udinese. However, earlier this week, he publicly announced that he would like to move to England.
"Although I do enjoy life in Italy, I would like to join a top club in England," he said.
Although Bierhoff only recently signed a contact designed to keep him at Udinese for at last the next three seasons, he is confident of being able to negotiate an immediate release if any club is willing to meet an anticipated asking price of £5 million.
"I am under contract until the year 2000, but I am sure that Udinese will let me go," he said.
Former Blackburn manager Ray Harford tried to sign Bierhoff in September, but abandoned his attempts after the player rejected the offer of a basic salary of £30,000 a week.
Although Swedish coach Eriksson is unlikely to take control at Blackburn until July because of his contractual obligations to his present club, Sampdoria, he has been told he can begin investing the estimated £20 million which has been made available to him for new players immediately
Any transfer would be delayed until after Bierhoff has undergone a minor ankle operation early next month.
Meanwhile, Everton have failed in a bid to sign Leeds United's former England international Carlton Palmer.
With his first team squad decimated by injuries, Everton manager Joe Royle asked his counterpart at Leeds, George Graham, to consider an offer of £1.5 million for Palmer, who arrived at Elland Road from Sheffield Wednesday for a fee of £2.6 million in 1994.
Although he may be forced to name a side lacking six regular first team players against Wimbledon at Goodson Park this afternoon, Royle said he had not considered calling off the game, something Middlesbrough controversially did last weekend when they declined to play at Blackburn because of similar problems.
"I suppose there is a case for us calling it off but we won't be doing that," said Royle.
. Barnsley will again be without skipper and top scorer Neil Redfearn with a hamstring injury for the visit of Manchester City. The influential midfielder could be out for up to a month.
Jeff Whitley and Gerry Creaney could be in City's starting line up as caretaker boss Phil Neal prepares to shuffle the pack again in a desperate bid to stop the visitors' slump.
