Souness desperate to stop Duff leaving Rovers

GRAEME SOUNESS has come out fighting as he bids to keep Damien Duff from quitting Blackburn for Chelsea.

The new-look Blues have had two huge offers for the Irish winger rejected, with both falling short of the reported £17million which would trigger a release clause in his contract.

The Londoners are yet to return with an improved bid, and Souness says the only way the 24-year-old will leave Ewood Park is if Roman Abramovich stumps up the asking price. Souness said: "It's a simple situation. The clause triggers the possibility of him going but we're desperate to hold on to him. We have no intention of selling him and we want to keep him here. But when Damien signed his new contract last summer he did so in the knowledge that someone could come in and offer a lot of money. We don't want to lose Damien under any circumstances but we are realists."

Souness knows his best attempts to keep Duff may eventually prove pointless, but he denied his Rovers stars are easy pickings for the likes of Chelsea, and argued even the biggest clubs would struggle to resist Abramovich's overtures.

"I don't care who you are," Souness said. "If Roman Abramovich went knocking on Manchester United's door he would get some of the players out of there."

Manchester United chief executive Peter Kenyon was planning some raids of his own yesterday, promising an interesting week at Old Trafford, including the completion of Ronaldinho's £19m move from Paris St Germain. And that transfer could trigger Juan Sebastian Veron's departure for Chelsea, even though Kenyon claimed no formal bid has been received from the Stamford Bridge outfit.

United are anxious to finalise all their big money transfer deals this week ahead of Saturday's departure for their four-match US tour. American goalkeeper Tim Howard is expected to sign a four-year deal today once the formalities of his medical are complete and there has also been speculation a move from Real Betis' highly-rated midfielder Joaquin will be concluded.

However, Ronaldinho remains Ferguson's major summer target and, after welcoming the Brazilian's decision to go public over his desire to join the Red Devils on Sunday, Kenyon said he was confident the protracted transfer negotiations with PSG would soon be concluded. Confirmation Ronaldinho has signed should give Chelsea the green light to push through their move for Veron, with United apparently willing to accept a huge loss on the Argentinian, who cost £28.1m from Lazio two summers ago.

Kenyon refused to discuss Veron's future yesterday, other than to state there had been no formal communication from Chelsea about the player, but claimed United fans would be happy with the eventual composition of Ferguson's squad.

Howard's arrival from New York Metrostars is well timed given his standing in the States and the 22-year-old could even get a chance to establish himself as United's first choice given that Fabien Barthez, axed following blunders against Real Madrid, will not be on the trip. Barthez, Mikael Silvestre and new signing Eric Djemba-Djemba have all been given extra time off following the Confederations Cup last month, and Ronaldinho will almost certainly be offered the same luxury by Ferguson when he eventually signs.