A DEAL for Benfica's former Liverpool defender Steve Harkness has not been set up by Blackburn Rovers, despite speculation to that effect in a Sunday newspaper.

It was claimed that Rovers had agreed a £750,000 transfer to bring Harkness back to English football.

But Ewood chief executive John Williams confirmed today that the situation regarding the defender was unchanged as far as they were concerned.

Rovers initially showed some interest in Harkness but it has not gone any further than that.

They have also been linked with midfielder Peter Fear, who has been freed by Wimbledon.

But Williams denied the story which said manager Brian Kidd, who has been on holiday, had spoken to the player about a possible move to Ewood.

It is very quiet on the transfer front with few signs of any incoming deals at the moment. In fact, it looks more likely there could be further outgoings - to follow Anders Andersson and Oumar Konde.

With clubs starting to report back for training, there could finally be some movement on the Chris Sutton situation, though concrete offers have still to be received.

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