TURKISH striker Hakan Sukur today insisted he's on the verge of a move to Blackburn Rovers.

Sukur is currently struggling to hold down a regular place at Inter Milan and has recently been linked with moves to both Liverpool and Bolton.

Now, however, he claims he is ready to join Rovers where he hopes to be re-united with his former boss Graeme Souness.

Sukur said: "I will be saying goodbye to Inter. I will go to Blackburn Rovers.

"I have never considered a return to Turkey but I have chosen Blackburn because I will join up with my ex-coach Souness and a former team-mate from Galatasaray, Tugay.

"I cannot wait to play in the Premiership."

Souness, a long-time admirer of his former protege, recently said: "If Inter want to sell him we can talk about it.

"We need a strong, quick and experienced striker, and I know Hakan Sukur very well.

"If he is looking for a team, I would say, of course, that I want him.

"If the financial details are not a problem then why not."

But, though Sukur's willingness to join Rovers is sure to have alerted the Scot, his wages and the size of the fee Inter would demand could yet prove to be a stumbling block.