BLACKBURN Rovers were today hoping to complete the signing of former Ewood favourite David Dunn.

Rovers chairman John Williams has been granted permission to speak to the player after Birmingham finally accepted his latest offer last night.

A medical and discussions regarding personal terms were expected to take place this morning, and if all goes to plan then Dunn could seal his Rovers return by the end of the day in a deal that could eventually be worth £2 million.

Speaking exclusively to the Lancashire Telegraph, Williams said: "We've got permission to speak to David Dunn and we are now going through the normal procedures regarding a medical and personal terms."

Although there's still some work to do before a deal is safely in the bag, Rovers now seem certain to pip Bolton Wanderers in the race for Dunn's signature.

The medical side of things should be a formality as the 27-year-old has already passed one stringent examination with Wanderers during the last few days.

The only thing that could scupper a deal, therefore, is a late hitch over personal terms, but Dunn is desperate to seal a return to Blackburn so that is unlikely to present a problem.

News of Rovers' dramatic 11th hour move for Dunn will come as a shattering blow to Bolton boss Sam Allardyce, who thought a deal to take him to the Reebok was virtually signed and sealed.

Wanderers had a bid accepted by Birmingham last Thursday and they have been trying to complete the transfer ever since.

However, Blackburn has remained close to the player's heart, and the lure of returning to the club where he first made his name is likely to prove too strong in the end.

Dunn made 169 appearances in his first spell with Rovers, and was instrumental in helping the club gain promotion back to the Premier League in 2001.

He was also part of the team that won the Worthington Cup the following season in Cardiff - Rovers' first major knockout trophy triumph since 1928.

However, a bitter fall-out with Graeme Souness then led to him being sold to Birmingham for £5.5 million in 2003, but his spell at St Andrew's has not been a happy one, mainly because a succession of injury problems have restricted him to just 53 starts in the last three and a half years.

Now Rovers boss Mark Hughes believes he can restore Dunn to his former glory by offering him a fresh start at Blackburn, where the medical back-up and coaching staff are rated amongst the best in the Premiership.