EVERTON boss David Moyes is weighing up a bid for Blackburn Rovers midfielder David Thompson.

Moyes was at Ewood Park on Wednesday night to see Thompson score twice in Rovers' 3-2 FA Cup victory over Cardiff City.

And now the Toffees chief is thought to be considering a bid for the 27-year-old Scouser as he looks to replace Thomas Gravesen, who joined Real Madrid in a £2.5 million deal last week.

Moyes had originally targeted Rovers' wantaway skipper Barry Ferguson after it became clear the Scotland captain was looking for a move.

However, Ferguson has since made it clear that he's got his heart set on a return to Rangers and a move to one of Rovers' Premiership rivals does not appeal to him.

That has prompted Moyes to switch his attention to Thompson instead and the one-time England midfielder is one of a number of targets the Scot is thought to be considering.

Rangers' Fernando Ricksen, Celtic star Stilian Petrov and Nottingham Forest's highly-rated wide-man Andy Reid are also in the frame to replace Gravesen.

But Thompson is a proven Premiership performer and the fact he grew up supporting Everton may appeal to manager Moyes.

Thompson has been to hell and back over the last 18 months as a succession of injuries have kept him sidelined for long spells.

But he's now beginning to recapture his form of old and the two goals he scored against Cardiff were his first since August 16 2003.

Rovers boss Mark Hughes would be reluctant to lose him, particularly at a time when Ferguson's future is still up in the air.

"Thommo is still coming back to his best," said Hughes.

"He is an important player and gives us something different when he's on the ball."

Meanwhile, Rovers are likely to formally respond to Ferguson's transfer request on Monday.

The 26-year-old asked for a move earlier this week, just days after Rovers had rejected a £3 million bid from Rangers for him.

In the meantime, new signing Robbie Savage will not play against his former club Birmingham when Rovers go to St Andrew's on April 30.

Blues owner David Sullivan had offered Rovers the chance to field the controversial Welshman in the match but only if they agreed to foot the £100,000 security bill.

Sullivan said: "We told Blackburn that if they wanted him to play at St Andrew's against us they could pay an extra £100,000 for the police bill.

"It would have had to be the biggest police presence imaginable.

"Normally there are hardly any police there when we play Blackburn but unfortunately he is now Public Enemy Number one."

Savage is expected to play against Bolton Wanderers on Monday, however, when he will make his Rovers debut.