BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today admitted he has shelved his plans to sign Hakan Sukur -- but denied there is any rift between the pair.

Souness first signed the Turkish international striker on a short-term deal in December with a view to making the arrangement permanent this summer.

However, strict financial constraints mean that Souness has now had to pull the plug on a deal, which paves the way for Sukur to return to Turkey at the end of the season.

The former Inter Milan star has already expressed a desire to go back home after failing to settle in England.

Sukur claimed he and Souness had a fall-out after he was dropped for Rovers' recent game against Manchester United.

But the Ewood chief insists there has been no bust-up and his decision not to offer him a new deal is purely a financial one.

"Basically Hakan is a victim of the financial constraints being endured not just at this club but by every club at the moment," said Souness.

"We've got Matt Jansen coming back over the summer and we are hoping and praying that he will be the player he was before his accident a year ago.

"With Cole, Yorke, and youngster Paul Gallagher coming through, that gives us four strikers.

"In an ideal world I would have liked to have signed Hakan as well, but we can't afford him and he and his family are keen to go back to Turkey.

"But he understands the situation and there has been no fall-out."

Souness has already been told he must trade in order to buy this summer so the likes of Ciccio Grabbi, Craig Hignett, John Curtis and Alan Mahon could all be off-loaded to make way for new faces.

The board have already been handed a list of players the manager hopes to target in the summer.

Souness wanted Rangers defender Lorenzo Amoruso but that trail has now gone cold after the Gers demanded £2 million for the 31-year-old.

However, Millwall midfielder Steven Reid remains a firm target as Souness looks to fill the void which will be left by the departure of Keith Gillespie.

"He's one of several players we have looked at and in the close season we will try and sign people who are going to strengthen us, but I'm not going to say if he's one of them," added Souness.

Meanwhile, Rovers will go in search of another vital win against West Brom tomorrow as they close in on a top-six finish.

Henning Berg looks set to return after recovering from a hamstring injury but Vratislav Gresko (foot) and Craig Short (hamstring) are definite non-starters.

David Dunn is also in contention after shaking off a calf strain while Hignett, Mahon and Jay McEveley have all been added to the squad as well.

Rovers are expected to chose from: Friedel, Neill, McEveley, Berg, Taylor, Todd, Johansson, Flitcroft, Tugay, Dunn, Duff, Cole, Yorke, Sukur, Gillespie, Grabbi, Mahon, Hignett, Ostenstad, Kelly.