David Goodwillie heads for English Premier as United agree £2.8m deal with Blackburn

The Tangerines have been holding out for top dollar for their star asset and after having a bid of 1.8 million rejected earlier yesterday, manager Steve Kean returned to match United's asking price.

It's understood United will receive 2 million up front, with the possibility of another 800,000 to follow based on performance.

They have also negotiated a sell-on clause should the English Premier club move the striker on in future.

United chairman Stephen Thompson, who has held firm to get the money he has been looking for, was last night putting the finishing touches to the deal and it is expected to be completed later today.

Goodwillie will now be allowed to hold talks with the Ewood Park side and is likely to travel to Lancashire this morning to hold discussions with the club and undergo a medical. The 22-year-old Scotland international's preference has always been to head to England rather than sign for Rangers, who have had two offers rejected over the past week.

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Rangers manager Ally McCoist made the Stirling-born forward his top summer signing target but the club refused to match United's demands.

Blackpool and Cardiff were also keen to sign Goodwillie but the lure of heading to the Premiership and the riches on offer in England's top flight has blown those two Championship sides out of the water.

Earlier in the day, McCoist had held out hope that he could still sign the striker, and challenged Dundee United manager Peter Houston's assertion that a move to Glasgow would not be in the best interests of Goodwillie. Houston had said that he feared the player could be the victim of a serious assault on the streets of the city.

"Peter is looking after the welfare of the boy, there is no doubt about that in my mind," said McCoist.

"Peter believes, rightly or wrongly, that he would get less hassle off the park down south. I fully appreciate where he is coming from.

"But I've got a different hat on and he is the type of player we would like. Although it's a different thing entirely playing for the Old Firm, with the right guidance, any player can hopefully handle it.

"It is a whole new experience playing for the Old Firm but we feel that we've got education and experience within our management team, and the team itself, to help any player who comes into the club."

Sudden interest in buying Goodwillie was sparked earlier this week when it emerged that rape charges against him were being dropped.