BLACKBURN Rovers manager Graeme Souness has dismissed speculation linking him with a shock return to Rangers.

Several sources in Scotland claimed over the weekend that Souness was being lined up as the man to replace the under-fire Alex McLeish in the Ibrox hot-seat.

But Souness has reacted angrily to such suggestions by describing the stories as 'mischief making'.

And he insists he has never spoken to his close friend and Rangers owner David Murray about the possibility of a return to the club where he launched his managerial career 18 years ago.

"I know nothing about that," said Souness, when asked about the latest round of speculation.

"I speak to David Murray on a weekly basis. If you know the man as well as I do, if he was thinking of changing his manager then the first person who would know is Alex McLeish.

"I have conversations with David on a weekly basis and we've never touched on that subject.

"As far as I'm concerned, Alex McLeish is a proper human being and I wish him well."

McLeish is under a huge amount of pressure following Rangers' poor start to the season and that increased when they lost again to Celtic yesterday.

In the meantime, fresh reports linking Alan Shearer with a shock return to Rovers are unlikely to come to fruition.

Rovers' chief executive John Williams insisted last night the club will not be making any more signings before tomorrow's transfer deadline.

In the meantime, Graeme Souness is now unlikely to sign the French midfielder Charles Coridon before tomorrow's transfer deadline.

But two clubs have enquired about taking Matt Jansen on loan - one from England and one from the continent.