EWOOD chief John Williams today predicted things will start to hot-up on the transfer front in the next fortnight as Rovers close in on a number of targets.

So far, Graeme Souness has chosen to bide his time in the transfer market as he formulates his plans for next season.

But the imminent signing of Lorenzo Amoruso, which should be completed in the next few days, is likely to be the catalyst for further new faces before the squad departs for America two weeks' tomorrow.

As from today, hundreds of players have now become free agents after their contracts expired at midnight last night.

And that means Souness is free to step up negotiations with targets such as Philippe Leonard who has now officially severed all ties with French side Monaco.

"Things should start taking shape in the next couple of weeks," said Williams, who is back at Ewood to conduct any transfer talks following a two-week break.

"Hopefully, we should conclude a deal for Amoruso soon and we are currently making progress on at least one other front as well.

"But it's very, very difficult at the moment. Clubs seem to be reluctant to sell, just as much as they are to buy so it's a very stagnant market.

"Apart from David Beckham going to Real Madrid and the Portuguese lad joining Spurs, there hasn't been a great deal of activity going on anywhere else."

David Dunn's on-off move to Birmingham should be sorted out one way or the other by the end of the week.

And if he ends up moving to St Andrews for a £5.5 million fee then that will arm Souness with the funds he needs to pursue the likes of Aston Villa's Turkish defender Alpay.

Another player who could be on the move is former Rovers striker Hakan Sukur.

The Turkish international, who spent five months on loan at Ewood last season, is reported to be a target for Bolton boss Sam Allardyce.

Wanderers tried to sign the 31-year-old last December but the former Galatasaray star opted for Rovers instead.

But now that Souness has decided not to offer him something permanent, Sukur could be tempted into a move to the Reebok after clubs on the continent failed to show any interest in the ex- Internazionale star.