BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness is weighing up a summer move for Rangers star Lorenzo Amoruso.

Ewood chief Souness wants to bolster his defensive resources by landing a top class centre-back.

And as I understand it, Amoruso is the name at the top of his summer shopping list - although the Gers will need to significantly drop their £2 million asking price in order to make a move to Ewood a realistic possibility.

Souness has already had the Italian defender watched on a number of occasions in recent weeks.

And a Rovers spy was again present at Hampden Park on Saturday to run a personal check on the 31-year-old as Rangers beat Motherwell 4-3 in their Scottish Cup semi-final.

Preliminary talks have already taken place about the possibility of putting together a package that would see Amoruso move to Ewood in the summer.

Rangers want £2 million for the player, who is out of contract at the end of next season, but Souness is only thought to be willing to pay a fraction of that amount.

Some tough bargaining will therefore need to take place if the move is to come off.

Amoruso, a £4 million signing from Fiorentina in 1997, is now in his sixth season at Ibrox where he has become a huge favourite with the fans.

However, in the current financial climate it may still be possible to persuade Rangers to do business in the knowledge that he could leave for free on a Bosman in 12 months' time.

Amoruso nearly moved to the Premiership on two previous occasions following fall-outs with his former boss, Dick Advocaat.

Rangers had agreed fees with both Sunderland and West Ham only for the deals to fall through after the Italian failed to agree personal terms.

A move to England may still appeal to the player, however, especially given the fact he is now in his early 30s.

Souness has made the strengthening of his defence a priority in preparation for the possible departure of Henning Berg.

However, strict financial constraints mean he will not be spending big during the close season which would make a move for Amoruso a non-starter if Rangers refuse to budge over his asking price.

"That's the way it is in football at the moment," said Souness.

"We might be only a tweak away from being a very good side but that tweak could cost £10 million.

"We know what we are short of and the centre of defence is one of the areas I want to improve on.

"We are looking to strengthen in that position as well as lessening the age."

Frank De Boer has been consistently linked with a move to Ewood recently but Amoruso remains Souness's preferred option.

"We've got someone else in mind and we might have an answer on that maybe later this week," hinted the Rovers boss.

Meanwhile, Souness was left to rue a host of missed chances as Rovers were held to a 0-0 draw by Bolton yesterday.

"I thought we played very well considering it was our second game in three days," said Souness.

"I thought we bossed the game from start to finish, we had some good chances, but they didn't go in.

"Some of our play was excellent and we did everything but put the ball in the net which is the most important thing."

Rovers' reserves are in action against West Brom tonight at Ewood Park (kick off 7pm).