BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today admitted his hopes of landing Henning Berg on a permanent basis could hinge on the player taking a wage cut.

Berg's three-month loan spell from Manchester United is set to come to an end on December 8.

However, Souness wants the Norwegian international defender for keeps.

And he faces some tough negotiating with Berg currently on Premiership wages at Old Trafford.

"The complications are money," said Souness. "Henning is earning a great deal of money at Manchester United.

"But Manchester United are top of the Premier League, they're in the Champions League, and the income they get is far greater than ours.

"We, therefore, have to be professional about what kind of money we have to spend on players. And that's something we are all aware of here.

"We are trying to be as ambitious as we possibly can but we have to work within certain restrictions.

"So if we can't afford Henning Berg, then we can't afford him. But we would certainly like to have him."

Berg, meanwhile, has revealed he could be ready to make the switch permanent once he has sat down to discuss his situation with United boss Alex Ferguson.

"I've really enjoyed myself at Rovers," said Berg. "It's been great for me to play regular football again.

"At the moment, though, I am not in a position to know what I really want. The decision isn't solely down to me.

"United also have a say in this so it's up to them as well."

Rovers today quashed talk of a move for Liverpool defender Steve Staunton.