MOORE

Rovers

target

Moore

Rovers target Aussie

BLACKBURN Rovers manager Graeme Souness is poised to swoop for Rangers defender Craig Moore.

Souness has been given permission to speak to the Australian international about a £500,000 move to the Premiership.

And the Rovers boss is confident of wrapping up a deal for the rugged 28-year-old later this week as he looks to beef up his defensive options before the start of the season.

But Souness has been dealt a blow by the news that Steven Reid is likely to miss the first three months of the new campaign.

The Republic of Ireland international broke a metatarsal bone in his foot during Saturday's 1-0 friendly win at Preston and the injury is likely to keep him sidelined until the end of October.

Reid's absence could be tempered by the arrival of Moore, although the former Gers captain would also miss the first two games of the new season due to his involvement in the Olympics.

His decision to play for Australia in Athens led to Rangers placing him on the transfer list at the start of the summer but that has failed to deter Souness from getting his man.

The Rovers boss said: "I've reached agreement with Rangers over a price for Craig which is in the region of £500,000.

"I expect to talk to the boy himself in the next week. I've been an admirer of Craig for a long, long time and I'm also aware of his desire to have a crack at the Premiership.

"What has happened between him and Rangers has not put me off him or I wouldn't have taken my interest this far."

If Moore signs for Rovers he will become the third player to move from Rangers to Ewood in the space of 12 months.

, following hot on the heels of Lorenzo Amoruso and his best friend Barry Ferguson.

In the meantime, Bolton boss Sam Allardyce has scrapped any plans to sign Dwight Yorke after he was told that the striker is no longer available on a free.

"Now a transfer fee is involved, I wouldn't," said Allardyce when asked whether he would still be interested in landing Yorke.

Rovers reserves travel to Chester tonight for a friendly match.