Blackburn were today trying to persuade Republic of Ireland international Steven Reid to move to Ewood Park after a late attempt by Portsmouth to hijack the move.
Rovers had agreed a fee of around £2.5 million sterling with Millwall last week for the midifelder, but Premiership newcomers Portsmouth have now made a bid themselves.
The 22-year-old was understood to have travelled to Blackburn today for talks. Rovers chief executive John Williams told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph: "We are not counting our chickens with Steven Reid. That would be a big mistake.
"We'll go about this like we would with any other transfer and try and persuade him that this is the right club to join."
Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric said he would not get dragged into a bidding war with Rovers.
He added: "We are working very hard on a deal and we believe we've got as good a chance of getting him as Blackburn, but we don't want to get into a bidding auction with Blackburn".
Ciccio Grabbi, the Italian striker who has endured an awful two years at Blackburn since joining for £6.75 million, could be moving to Russian side Torpedo Moscow.