The Loftus Road club announced that they have agreed personal terms with the Latvian after receiving permission to speak with him, though the Seasiders strenuously deny this.

The Gorkss saga took another shock twist yesterday, when Rangers released this statement: "Queens Park Rangers FC have been given permission to speak to Blackpool defender Kaspars Gorkss.

"The 26-year-old has agreed personal terms and the deal is expected to be finalised early next week."

See how the row has played out:

Gorkss QPR saga- terms agreed

Gorkss misses Pool training as QPR dispute rages

Pool chairman goes to war with QPR

Gorkss to QPR?

The sudden announcement was all the more surprising because Rangers' attempts to sign Gorkss are supposedly the subject of a Football League investigation following complaints by Blackpool.

And last night, Pool chairman Karl Oyston responded: "We definitely have not given them permission to speak to him. I am disappointed once again with the way they have gone about their business."

Rangers first announced on June 12 that they had made a cash offer for the Latvian international centre-half.

Five days later, the Seasiders accused them of making an illegal approach to the player and complained to the football authorities.

Only last week, Oyston stressed that he would do everything in his power to block the Rangers bid, adding: "It is the most blatant illegal approach I have known in all my time in football."

QPR were not willing to elaborate on their latest brief statement and the Football League had no comment to make yesterday, saying only: "There is no update".

Gorkss certainly appears to have played his last game for Blackpool, having failed to report for pre-season training last week despite having a year to run on his contract.

He has made a huge impact in his two seasons with Pool and has attracted the interest of a host of Championship clubs, not least because of the bargain £250,000 transfer fee stipulated in his contract.