After enjoying a successful loan spell with Rangers last season, Davis is back with Fulham for pre-season training.

It is unlikely, though, that he will stay there with Blackburn and the Glasgow giants leading the race for the 23-year-old midfielder.

Wigan, Middlesbrough and Newcastle are also monitoring the situation.

At the end of last season, Davis told the Belfast Telegraph that he would relish a return to Rangers on a full-time basis and Walter Smith would love to have him.

The Rangers boss has tabled two bids, the second of which was understood to be £3million, but both were turned down by Fulham who feel the man from Cullybackey is worth £4 million.

In his short time with Rangers Davis became a big favourite with the fans helping the club win the Scottish Cup and CIS Cup . He was also a key figure in the run to the UEFA Cup final.

Smith, who signed Northern Ireland striker Kyle Lafferty earlier in the summer, said: “Talks with Fulham about Steven are ongoing. That is something we have been doing and will continue to do.”

Blackburn though feel they can steal a march on Rangers and having already tested the waters with Fulham, Ince is now prepared to up the ante and bid more that £3 million.

Former Manchester United, Liverpool and England ace Ince knows that Blackburn fans are concerned that they could lose some of their big names with David Bentley and Roque Santa Cruz targets for the Premier League’s ‘big four’.

That’s why he is keen to bring in top class performers as soon as possible. While not hitting the heights at Fulham, in his early days at Aston Villa and with Rangers and Northern Ireland Davis has shown he is in that category.