BLACKBURN Rovers are ready to write off £6.75 million in a bid to get Ciccio Grabbi off the wage bill.

Rovers boss Graeme Souness today confirmed the club are in talks with a Serie A club, believed to be Ancona, about a deal for Grabbi.

And Rovers would be prepared to let the 28-year-old leave for nothing if the Italians agreed to take over the remaining 18 months of his contract.

Souness said he has been hugely disappointed with the way things have worked out for Grabbi since he arrived at Rovers from Ternana two and a half years ago.

The Italian has only scored two Premiership goals and just five in total during his time at Ewood.

And Souness has admitted that the pace of English football has ultimately proved too intense for the former Juventus player.

"Of course I'm disappointed with how things have worked out because I'm the one who suggested we should sign him," said Souness.

"When any player doesn't do it, especially when you've paid good money for him, you feel angry and disappointed.

"But that's football and this is not the first time this has happened to me.

"I think the game over here is too intense for him. He has ability and I think if Ciccio were to leave here he would go feeling disappointed because it hasn't worked out for him.

"But I would like to think he would also go in the knowledge that our supporters have given him every chance so it would be disappointment all round."

Rovers will have to cut their losses to get the player off the wage-bill but the whole transfer market has changed dramatically since the club shelled out the £6.75 million fee to bring him to England.

"That's the way the game has developed in the last 18 months to two years and it's unfortunate for us in this case," added Souness.

Meanwhile, Souness hopes he may be able to use the wages saved on Grabbi to finance a move for a replacement in the January transfer window, assuming the Ancona deal goes through.

Grabbi and his advisers are due to speak to representatives from the Italian club this weekend.

"If that was to happen then that would be someone else off the wage bill which would maybe enable us to recruit someone else," said Souness.

"But that's only half the story. I believe I've got a good group of players here and for me to strengthen I'm not going to sign a muppet.

"He has to be a good player and good players cost money and good wages so getting a wage off is not the answer to everything, although it's a big help."