BLACKBURN Rovers today dismissed reports linking Brett Emerton with a summer move to Newcastle United.

Several stories in the national Press this morning claimed United boss Graeme Souness is poised to swoop on his former club for the Australian international.

But Rovers have poured cold water on talk of a £2.5 million switch to St James' Park, insisting the former Feyenoord star is 'not for sale'.

"There's nothing in these stories," said Rovers' chief executive John Williams.

"We've had no contact whatsoever from anyone at Newcastle United regarding Brett Emerton and Mark sees him as a key member of the squad for next season anyway.

"We've been offered various wide-men this summer but we've said 'no' because we are happy with the ones we have got."

Links between Souness and Emerton were inevitable as the former Rovers boss spent two years tracking the 26-year-old before he signed him for Blackburn in July 2003.

Among the clubs he beat to his signature at the time was Newcastle, who once had a £7 million bid rejected for the Aussie a number of years ago by Feyenoord.

In the meantime, Rovers are set to miss out on Mikael Forssell as the Chelsea striker is poised to join Birmingham today in a £3 million deal.

Rovers made a firm enquiry about the Finnish international earlier in the summer but he has decided to opt for a return to St Andrews instead, where he spent a season on loan.

Elsewhere, reports linking Rovers with a swoop for Newcastle's Laurent Robert are wide of the mark.

And Mark Hughes has not made an enquiry about Uruguayan striker Walter Pandiani, despite reports to the contrary in this morning's papers.