Souness shifts sights to Matteo

Having completed the signing of Paul Dickov from Leicester City yesterday, the Blackburn Rovers manager, Graeme Souness, has now set his sights on the Leeds United captain, Dominic Matteo.

Having completed the signing of Paul Dickov from Leicester City yesterday, the Blackburn Rovers manager, Graeme Souness, has now set his sights on the Leeds United captain, Dominic Matteo.

Souness made an inquiry about the former Scotland international, who is being chased by a handful of Premiership clubs. With Andy Todd about to be sold, Rovers are looking for more players, and Matteo can play beside Lorenzo Amoruso at the back.

Leeds are looking for around £1m but a snag in the negotiations is his contract, which is worth £2m a year. Manchester City, Everton and Fulham have tried for Matteo but Blackburn have emerged as favourites.

Souness also hopes that his Turkish midfielder Tugay Kerimoglu will sign a new, one-year deal in the next few days.

Though Leeds look likely to lose Matteo, their manager, Kevin Blackwell, is poised to make the Queen's Park Rangers defender Clarke Carlisle his second signing of the summer. The 24-year-old, who is available on a free transfer, is due to undergo a medical later this week. A former England Under-21 international, Carlisle is 6ft 3in tall and came through the ranks at Blackpool.

Blackwell's first signing since taking over at Elland Road was Danny Pugh, who joined Leeds as part of the £7m deal which took Alan Smith to Manchester United.