GRAEME Souness claims any move for Manchester United outcast Dwight Yorke hinges on Blackburn staying in the Premiership.

Yorke is being linked with a move to Rovers, where he would be reunited with his former United strike partner Andy Cole.

Souness would not confirm or deny any interest in Yorke -- as we reported in later editions yesterday -- but he did say there would be no chance of the ex-Trinidad and Tobago star coming to Ewood Park if Rovers were relegated.

"I think the first thing we have got to get settled is what league we will be playing in," said the Blackburn manager.

"We have to stay in the Premier League if we're going to be in the market for people like Dwight Yorke or anyone like that.

"The fact is we don't know what league we're going to be playing in next year and we certainly couldn't afford him if we were in the First Division."

Souness is a big admirer of Yorke, despite his fall from grace at United where he has been totally frozen out of the first-team picture this season.

And Yorke has been told he has to "move on" by Sir Alex Ferguson.

The United boss said: "He's got to get a career elsewhere - that is obvious. He's done a great job for us and he will do a great job for somewhere else."

United will listen to offers for the 30-year-old, who cost them £12.6million from Aston Villa four years ago.

Meanwhile, Stig Bjornebye is not expected to return until before Christmas after fracturing an eye socket in training.