BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness could be given more leverage in the transfer market following the departure of Cicco Grabbi.

Rovers finally off-loaded the Italian misfit last night after the 28-year-old agreed to sign for Serie A strugglers Ancona.

And although the club ended up having to write-off £6.75 million in transfer fees, the money saved on his wages could well help to finance an extra signing for Souness during the January transfer window, with Leicester's Muzzy Izzet emerging as one of the main targets.

Grabbi still had 18 months left to run on a lucrative contract with Rovers, which was proving to be a huge drain on resources, so the fact that the 28-year-old is now off the wage bill may well help Souness to bring in a new face as cover for Barry Ferguson, who could be back in as little as three months time.

"It's going to help overall in terms of the wages," said Rovers' chief executive John Williams today.

"Ciccio didn't just have this year left to run on his contract but next season as well so this should help us a little bit."

Grabbi put pen to paper on a contract with the Italians which expires in June 2007.

The club, situated on Italy's Adriatic Coast, were promoted to Serie A last summer but look destined for an immediate return to the second division after failing to win a top flight game so far this season.

A prolific season with Ternana in Serie B in 2000-01 saw Grabbi score 20 goals in 34 games which earned him a £6.75million move to Blackburn.

However, he failed to make an impact in the Premiership and in his first season in England, he was loaned to Sicilian club Messina.

He now returns to Italy for good after two and a half unproductive seasons at Ewood.

Meanwhile, Rovers have played down reports linking Dwight Yorke with a January move to Wolves.

Wanderers boss Dave Jones is looking for a striker and Yorke was said to be the name at the top of his wish-list.

However, Rovers have not been contacted by anyone from Molineux and it's unlikely they would be prepared to let Yorke go anyway as Souness now has just four senior strikers on his books following Grabbi's departure.

Reports linking Andy Cole with a £2 million move to Middlesbrough have also been denied.

Rovers have also been linked with moves for Liverpool's Emile Heskey and Real Sociedad winger Javier De Pedro but there is little foundation to either story.

Souness remains in the market for a striker, however, as a deal for United States international Brian McBride is now officially dead.