Rovers bid for Amoruso

Blackburn Rovers aim to give their league and UEFA Cup campaign a major boost next season by signing experienced Rangers defender Lorenzo Amoruso for 1.5 million pounds.

The 31-year-old Amoruso is still under contract with the Scottish champions next season, but it has been reported that the Ibrox giants may try and reduced their huge debts by selling off the player.

"We've made an offer and we're hoping it will be accepted," Rovers chief executive John Williams told BBC Radio Lancashire on Thursday.

"We're optimistic, but at this stage we haven't been given permission to speak to him."

Rovers' manager Souness has had at least two approaches for the Italian defender turned down and said earlier this month that Amoruso was too expensive.

Alex McLeish, the boss of the Scottish side, had insisted that it would take "a silly offer" to wrestle Amoruso from the Scottish Premier League leaders.