BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness is ready to raid the transfer market by launching bids for two separate players later this week.

I can exclusively reveal that Souness has already lined up two different targets as he begins planning for next season.

And Rovers will follow up their interest with hard cash in the next few days as part of a £4 million spending spree.

Club officials were today keeping tight-lipped as to the identity of the two targets.

But it's thought Norwegian winger Morten Pedersen could be one of them as Souness looks for the man to replace Damien Duff.

Rovers have made no secret of the fact they want to sign a left-sided midfield player this summer.

And Souness has flown out to

Norway to watch Pedersen in action on three separate occasions in the last few weeks.

His club, Tromso, are thought to want around £2 million for the 22-year-old wide-man but Rovers are likely to offer nearer half that amount.

Although Rovers' chief executive, John Williams, is giving little away in regard to the identity of the two targets, he did admit the recruitment of a left-sided player was the club's number one priority this summer.

"In an ideal world, Graeme would like to bring in three or four new players," said Williams.

"We've certainly set our sights on two and I would expect by the end of this week that we'll have made two offers.

"It's an open secret that we've been looking for a left-sided midfield player to balance the team and that's been the primary target.

"We'll probably be moving to make an offer on our preferred choice and if we can't get him then we'll move to a second choice for that area.

"Of the other positions, Greame has said he would like a couple of midfielders, a defender and a striker and we'll be making an offer for one of those other three positions."

If Souness succeeds in landing his top two targets then he would probably have to trade in order to finance any further deals as his budget is likely to be tight this summer.

"Finances will dictate that we'll be restricted in some of the things we can do but, having said that, we don't want to make whole sale changes anyway," added Williams.

"If we are able to complete those two pieces of business then I think it will be a case of trading after that if, indeed, we are going to bring four new faces in."

Meanwhile, Rovers have agreed to play Preston North End in a pre-season friendly which will coincide with the unveiling of statue in honour of the legendary Sir Tom Finney.

Graeme Souness will take a team to Deepdale on Saturday, July 31, just a week before the start of the new Nationwide League season.