Coventry City appear to be prepared to meet Dion Dublin's £20,000a-week wage demand. The striker rejected by Glenn Hoddle is expected to begin negotiations with the chairman Bryan Richardson over a deal that would keep him at Highfield Road for three years.

Dublin has already rejected an offer of £16,500 a week.

The Aston Villa manager John Gregory will open negotiations with the Bolton chairman Gordon Hargreaves today over the Wanderers midfielder Alan Thompson. Leeds are also interested in the midfielder but they and Villa agreed not to get involved in an auction after Bolton asked £5 million for him.

The Villa midfielder Mark Draper looks set to end speculation about his future by signing a new contract. He has been eyed by a number of Premiership clubs.

Kevin Davies yesterday completed his £7.25 million move to Blackburn from Southampton. The England Under-21 striker signed a seven-year contract only 12 months after the then Southampton manager Graeme Souness paid Chesterfield £750,000 for him.

The Southampton chairman, Rupert Lowe, explaining the decision to sell Davies, said: "We are unable to generate as much money as our Premiership rivals and that will remain the case while we are waiting for a new stadium. But our manager Dave Jones was under no pressure to sell. In the end it was an offer we could not refuse."

Stuart McCall, the 33-year-old Rangers midfielder, is returning to Bradford City, where he started his career.

Swindon's manager Steve McMahon is to sign Jimmy Glass on a free transfer from Bournemouth.