BLACKBURN Rovers have cooled their interest in Leeds defender Michael Duberry.

Speculation in the national Press this morning claimed Graeme Souness was ready to make another move for the former Chelsea defender as a follow up to his initial enquiry earlier this summer.

But I can reveal Rovers have now decided to shelve all plans to sign the 26-year-old because strengthening the centre of defence is no longer Souness's number one priority.

"It is true that we made an initial enquiry about Michael two months ago but we decided not to go through with that and since then we've also signed Andy Todd and Henning Berg has committed his future to the club, so our interest has cooled now in that direction," said chief executive John Williams today.

Despite Terry Venables' arrival at Leeds, Duberry is still desperate to get away from Elland Road after a traumatic 18 months.

And his agent, Phil Graham, is confident he will get him a move after several clubs have expressed an interest in the player.

"Michael has told the manager how he feels," said Graham .

"It's nothing to do with the new manager -- this is how he's felt for a long time.

"He feels he needs first-team football.

"There has been interest from Blackburn, Bolton and Everton.

"We have been in contact with all of them but there has been nothing concrete yet."

Rovers have also dropped their interest in Sunderland defender Emerson Thome following the arrival of Todd and fellow defender Sebastian Pelzer.

The Brazilian centre-back was another name on Souness's list of summer targets but the Rovers boss has decided not to take the matter further, prompting Thome to pledge his future to the Black Cats.