Gresko hopeful of Rovers switch

Vratislav Gresko jetted back to the north-west last night hoping to become Blackburn boss Graeme Souness’ latest summer signing.

Rovers have agreed a fee with Italian side Parma and the Slovakian full-back is due an Ewood Park medical after also accepting personal terms and a three-year deal.

Gresko will then seek a work permit which means the final announcement of his arrival will not be made until the end of the month.

Gresko – who played on loan for Rovers at the end of last season – will become the third big-name signing of Souness’ increasingly fruitful summer.

He unveiled Brett Emerton and Lorenzo Amoruso at the club’s training headquarters this week and said he hoped his new boys would push the club higher than last season’s sixth place.

Souness said: “I am happier with my squad and more excited about going into the Premiership season now than I was at the same stage last season.

“You look to strengthen your team at the end of a season and I think we have done that. A year from now we will be able to tell but I think we have improved a fair bit.”

Amoruso said he was relishing his fresh start with Rovers after ending his glittering six-year spell in Glasgow with Rangers.

Amoruso has signed a three-year deal after both clubs agreed a £1.4million fee for the former Gers captain.

The Italian defender said: “I am back in a top league and I am looking forward to facing some top strikers every week.

“My feeling about Blackburn was good from the first phone call and I knew of Graeme through people in Glasgow. He is someone who knows exactly what he wants - just like me.”

Emerton has signed a four-year deal after his £2.2million switch from Dutch giants Feyenoord.

And the Australia international – who was the subject of a large number of offers from Barclaycard Premiership clubs this summer – said he was relishing the opportunity of following in the footsteps of his compatriot Harry Kewell.

Emerton said: “I have always made it known that I wanted to play in the Premier League and Feyenoord was just a stepping stone for me.

“There were other offers from other clubs but this club had great ideas and hopefully we can be successful this season.

“This is a new challenge for me and it will be a little bit more difficult but I have always believed in my own ability.”