Arsenal and Aston Villa vie for Rovers defender Scott Dann

ARSENAL and Aston Villa are scheduled to meet in the fourth round of the FA Cup in a fortnight's time but it seems the pair are set to come to blows before then over Blackburn defender Scott Dann.

The 24-year-old centre-back was linked with the Gunners in the summer when he was still with Birmingham. Then, on the last day of the transfer window, he went to Blackburn.

Now, according to Sky Sports, Dann is being chased by Arsene Wenger and Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish. Despite the fact that Dann signed a four-year deal with Blackburn in the summer, Sky claim that the club "would consider selling for the right offer", which would have to be more than the alleged £6m that Rovers paid six months ago.

AC Milan and Manchester City have reportedly failed to agree a deal for Carlos Tevez. According to Talksport, the two clubs held protracted negotiations in London this week but the Sky Blues are adamant that they'll only offload the Argentine striker on a permanent transfer. Milan are said to be hankering for a loan deal and, with no party willing to budge, the talks have broken down.

One loan deal that has gone through is that of Ireland striker Robbie Keane to Aston Villa. The Metro reports that the 31-year-old international has joined the Midlands club on a two-month loan similar to the one that Thierry Henry signed with Arsenal last week. Like Henry, Keane has been plying his trade in the MLS and the former Tottenham frontman will report back to LA Galaxy in March.

Liverpool have announced on their official website that captain Steven Gerrard has committed his future to the club less than 24 hours after scoring for the Reds in their 1-0 Carling Cup semi-final defeat of Manchester City.

The 31-year-old midfielder has signed what Liverpool described as a "long-term contract" and Gerrard told the club website: "The contract extension coming the day after has been the icing on the cake so it has been a perfect 24 hours. This is the club I love and is the club I have supported since I was a young boy."

Sky Sports report that Blackburn Rovers have rejected two approaches for their defender Chris Samba. The 27-year-old Congolese international has been in fine form for Rovers this season and, according to Sky, that's led to an offer of £5m from QPR and one of £7.5m from high-flying Tottenham.

But manager Steve Kean appears determined to hold on to Samba particularly with Scott Dann likely to be sold to either Arsenal or Villa. "There has been interest all along," said Kean. "It doesn't surprise me, because he is a quality player for us and we would like to keep him. I would like to end it at that."

QPR seem to have got the message and according to ESPN have now turned their attention to Chelsea defender Alex. Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas confirmed that they had received an offer for the Brazilian centre-back but he wouldn't go into details.

"There has been an approach from a Premier League club," Villas-Boas said. "It is a player who we have accepted a transfer request for, so we have to listen to offers. We're just trying to reach the level of proposal we think is good for the player." Villas-Boas also took the opportunity to rubbish rumours that Chelsea have made a £25m offer for Lille playmaker Eden Hazard.

Finally, The Sun says Manchester United midfielder Darren Gibson will today sign for Everton in a £2m deal that will please Toffees boss David Moyes and also United manager Alex Ferguson. Gibson was fined a week's wages this month after an unauthorised night out on the tiles and Fergie's now decided to sell the Irishman before his contract expires at the end of the season. ·