New offer puts Savage on brink of move to Blackburn

The prospect of Robbie Savage signing for Blackburn Rovers edged closer last night as the clubs pondered a £3m deal that would, perhaps uniquely, make the combative Wales midfielder a hate figure with the supporters of both Birmingham City and Aston Villa.

The prospect of Robbie Savage signing for Blackburn Rovers edged closer last night as the clubs pondered a £3m deal that would, perhaps uniquely, make the combative Wales midfielder a hate figure with the supporters of both Birmingham City and Aston Villa.

Savage, 30, requested a transfer from Birmingham recently, despite having signed a new, four-year contract last summer. Mark Hughes, the Blackburn manager, had two offers for Savage turned down amid suggestions by Birmingham's co-owner, David Sullivan, that his "family" reasons for wanting to leave St Andrew's were less than sincere.

Sullivan also threatened to sue Blackburn for an "illegal" approach, while the Lancashire club were not prepared to increase their improved offer of £2.7m to the £3.5m at which Birmingham were ready to do business. However, Blackburn are now understood to have offered a compromise figure, which Birmingham evidently view more favourably, prompting Hughes to claim yesterday that "progress has been made".

His Birmingham counterpart, Steve Bruce, earlier reiterated his stance that Savage would not be leaving unless Blackburn met their valuation. Yet he also remarked that "like every player, he has got his price". Bruce has been encouraged by the form of Darren Carter, who scored twice in the FA Cup defeat of Leeds United, but would almost certainly enter the market for a replacement.

Hughes denied that Savage's arrival would be financed by the return of Barry Ferguson to Rangers. Nevertheless, the Glasgow club remain confident of finalising a deal for their former captain, whose family want to return to Scotland. Blackburn still owe Rangers £2.5m for Ferguson, which they would waive and add to Alex McLeish's £3m offer, to represent a fee of £5.5m.

Birmingham's dispute with Blackburn had prompted reports that they might be prepared to sell Savage to Everton for around £2.5m. The prospect of such a deal appeared to increase yesterday with the news that Thomas Gravesen was about to join Real Madrid for £2.3m, thus providing the fee without David Moyes having to raid the funds raised by the defection of Wayne Rooney.

Sources close to the Everton manager indicated a move for Savage had been considered, but they believed Moyes was more interested in the long-term potential of the Chelsea duo, Joe Cole and Scott Parker.