While interest in Dutch defender Andre Ooijer and even Stephen Warnock, who has attracted a £2million bid from Newcastle, is relatively low level, it is Tottenham's move for David Bentley that has captured the imagination.

Bentley has already expressed a desire to leave Ewood Park in order to strengthen his claims on an England shirt.

Aston Villa made a big-money offer for the 23-year-old before Mark Hughes left for Manchester City - which was turned down flat.

Now Tottenham have made their first approach.

Official contact is thought to have been made last night, although as the bid was below Villa's, it is hardly a surprise chairman John Williams was left unimpressed.

"We have had bids from two clubs," Blackburn chief executive John Williams told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

"One came in when Mark Hughes was manager, the other was fairly recent. They have both been rejected."

It seems unlikely Spurs coach Juande Ramos will take no for an answer, particularly if captain Robbie Keane leaves for Liverpool in the next 48 hours.

As Dimitar Berbatov is also a stated target for Manchester United, Ramos needs transfers coming in to balance those that seem to be heading the other way.

For his part, Bentley needs the extra exposure European combat would bring, something Blackburn seem unlikely to achieve in the current climate.

The former Arsenal trainee seemed destined to inherit the right-sided midfield berth for England last season.

But a combination of David Beckham's form and Fabio Capello's strategy in attack has made such a scenario appear less certain as England's World Cup qualifying campaign looms into view.

Tottenham would offer a return 'home' and with none of the big-four showing an interest in the 23-year-old, they would appear favourites to seal his services.

However, Ramos will need to come up with much more than he has offered so far, up to £17million mentioned in some quarters, and Villa boss Martin O'Neill will await developments with interest, able to move forward with much more certainty should his club come through their two-legged Intertoto Cup tie with Odense unscathed and book a spot in the less hazardous UEFA Cup qualifiers next month.

Like Ramos, Ince could certainly do with some good news to deliver even if Ooijer, who has attracted the attention of Panathinaikos, and Warnock remain where they are, as Williams intends.

Blackburn's impressive young manager has yet to make his first foray into the transfer market, although it appears an international midfield player from overseas is on his shopping list.

"We are making progress," said Williams.

"We have had a number of discussions but there is still some work to do."