A FURIOUS Graeme Souness today slammed newspaper reports suggesting Andy Cole wants to quit Blackburn Rovers as 'completely untrue.'

Several stories in this morning's tabloids claimed Cole will sign for Fulham in the summer after growing 'increasingly unhappy' with Rovers' struggle in the Premiership.

But Souness has moved quickly to quash the rumours by insisting his star-striker is going nowhere -- either now or in the summer.

"As far as I'm concerned, there's no truth in these stories whatsoever," rapped Souness, speaking exclusively to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph from Rovers' training base in Dubai today.

"Andy is out here training with us and he seems perfectly happy.

"I know he's desperately unhappy about the fact he's out suspended at the minute and he feels as though he has let everyone down.

"But as for how he feels, generally, there isn't a problem.

"So I know you have to answer stories like this but, as far as I'm concerned, there's nothing to write because there isn't a problem."

According to the stories, Cole has found it hard to settle at Rovers, despite averaging a goal every other game since his club-record move from Manchester United in December.

Rumours of alleged training ground bust-ups are claimed to have unsettled the 30-year-old and split the Ewood dressing room.

But Souness has angrily denied behind-the-scenes rifts have taken place involving the England striker.

And he has also dismissed claims that he has had to have several heart-to-heart chats with the frontman in an effort to keep him happy.

"I don't know who he's supposed to have had these bust-ups with but it's certainly not me," quipped the Rovers boss.

When Cole signed for Rovers in a £7.5 million deal back in December, he was hailed by Souness as the man to fire the goals to save Rovers from the drop.

But, despite scoring seven times in 15 games including the winner in the Worthington Cup final, the club are still hovering perilously on the brink of the relegation zone.

Sometimes his body language on the pitch has suggested he is struggling to come to terms with life after Old Trafford.

And his stamp on Mike Whitlow recently in the 1-1 derby draw with Bolton recently was held up as further evidence of his growing frustration.

That would appear to have alerted Fulham boss Jean Tigana who is said to be ready to test Rovers' resolve with a £6 million bid in the summer whether they win their survival battle or not.

The Cottagers and Manchester City were among a posse of clubs who enquired about Cole when he indicated his willingness to leave Old Trafford at the back end of last year.

And there would certainly be no shortage of takers for the player if Rovers did decide they wanted to sell once their Premiership fate is decided.