Roberto Di Matteo has for the first time admitted that Keith Andrews is Premier League bound - but insists the club will cope without him.

The want-away midfielder has been keen to follow former boss Paul Ince to Ewood Park since the start of the summer.

Although the Dons, despite transfer-listing him in pre-season, have kept painfully quiet about the proposed transfer.

But it was revealed last night that Andrews would now be having a medical at the Lancashire club, with Di Matteo finally breaking his silence today.

He said: "What I know is that negotiations are ongoing and that is about it.

"We have agreed a fee but nothing has been signed yet.

"He is going to be a big loss for this club, he has been fantastic here at MK and it is a bit of a shame. But it is the player's wish and dream and we wish him good luck.

"He has done well, but not only him I think the whole team did extraordinarily well last season. Football is a team sport, not an individual sport and I guess we'll survive without Andrews."

The Italian also admitted the timing of the transfer and the length of time it has taken to sort out has been far from ideal.

"It is going to take time to see how much he'll be missed here and obviously you know the transfer window closes in a few days, so there is not much time left. But I guess the chairman will be happy he has got a richer bank account and we will see what we can do.

"I would have been happier if it hadn't dragged on for so long, it hasn't been an ideal situation I have to say, but we just get on with life. It hasn't been an easy start but we are still alive."

But Di Matteo doesn't know how much of the fee, which is believed to be £500,000 up front and a similar amount in add-ons, he will actually get to spend.

"I don't know yet what is happening, nothing has been signed yet so once the deal is done and dusted we will sit down and see. But I guess it is very difficult to do anything before the transfer window closes anyway."