SAINTS today completed the swap deal to bring Kevin Davies back to The Dell with Egil Ostenstad moving to Blackburn.

Davies passed a medical at The Dell this morning and has agreed personal terms and Blackburn this afternoon called a press conference to announce the signing of Ostenstad.

The switch - exclusively revealed in later editions of last night's Echo - solves a dilemma for both clubs.

Davies has struggled for form and fitness since moving to Ewood Park just over a year ago while Saints knew they were likely to lose Ostenstad for nothing at the end of the season.

Manager Dave Jones said: "Everything has been sorted out at our end and we have just been waiting for confirmation that Blackburn have signed Egil, who has been up there having talks."

"The chairman had talks with Egil last week and offered him the best deal possible but he declined it so we faced losing him for nothing at the end of the season under the Bosman ruling.

"I can understand that but we had to decide whether to miss out on the money or take the opportunity to bring in a quality striker. If we can get the best out of Kevin then it is a hell of a deal for us.

"He's a good player and he is still young and we know he can do a good job for us."

Saints offered Ostenstad a four-year contract which would effectively have made the Norwegian the best-paid player in the club.

Ostenstad turned it down and indicated he wanted to exercise his freedom of contract at the end of the season.

Bosman free agents can negotiate their moves from January 1 and then stay put for five months knowing they will moving at the end of it.

Saints had an offer on the table from Fenerbahce who are thought to be ready to pay £4 million but Ostenstad does not want to move to Turkey.

The move to end Davies' Blackburn nightmare would be a straight swap, not Ostenstad plus £2 million as has been reported elsewhere.

Saints chairman Rupert Lowe said: "We really pushed the boat out to try and keep Egil but he indicated he did not want to sign so we feel this is a good deal for the club.

"It is quite complicated but we hope everything will go through in the near future."

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