BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness has failed in an audacious bid to sign Rangers star Barry Ferguson.

I can exclusively reveal that Souness has made an official enquiry for the Scotland skipper in the last few days.

But Gers chief Alex McLeish has knocked back Rovers' initial advances by insisting his star-man is not for sale.

"We've made an enquiry for Barry in the last seven days but we were told he's not for sale," said Souness today.

"He's someone I've been aware of for a few years, he's still only 24, and I think he's a very, very good player.

"But Rangers told us that he's not available and that's the end of it.

"I've got a good relationship with the chairman of that football club and I respect what he says."

Souness is desperate to pep up his squad before the transfer deadline.

Ideally he wants to bring in three more new signings to bolster his defence, midfield and attack.

Ferguson would have fit the bill perfectly in midfield after emerging as one of the brightest talents in Scottish football during the last couple of years.

A host of top clubs have been tracking him over the last 12 months but Souness hoped his Rangers contacts might have helped him to steal a march on his rivals as he looked to make the Scottish champions an offer they could not refuse.

However, Gers chief David Murray is determined to hang onto the club's biggest asset, despite the tempation to cash in and ease Rangers' financial problems.

Souness will now switch his attentions elsewhere and may decide to resurrect his interest in Sunderland's Claudio Reyna.

He continues to be linked with West Brom's Jason Roberts, too, after he tried to land the striker on loan last week.

But he won't pay over the odds for a player who only scored three Premiership goals last term.

"They've just rejected a £1.5 million bid from Wigan and I would say that's his value in the current market," added Souness.

Souness's need for extra resources has been made even more acute by the news that new signings Brett Emerton and Steven Reid will both now miss Saturday's Premiership curtain-raiser against Wolves at Ewood.

Emerton is a definite non-starter after Rovers failed in their appeal to get a one-match ban overturned last night.

Souness only learned last week that Emerton had been hit by a suspension as a result of picking up two yellow cards in two separate Dutch Cup games last season.

However, Rovers appealed against that decision, claiming the ban should apply to Cup games only as it would in Holland, but the FA have rejected their argument after consulting FIFA.

"It's very, very disappointing because if Brett was still at Feyenoord then he'd be free to play in their first league game but he can't play for us," said Souness.

"At the end of the day, it's the supporters who end up losing out.

"They pay big money for season tickets and they want to see the best players playing.

"But, right now, top players seem to be getting banned for next to nothing.

"Look at the situation involving Sol Campbell and Eric Djemba-Djemba. It's getting ridiculous and it's the fans who end up paying the penalty."

Reid looks set to join Emerton on the sidelines after failing to recover from the twisted ankle he suffered in the friendly win over Bray last week.

Meanwhile, Souness's plans to bring in a couple of new faces has been met with approval by Lorenzo Amoruso.

"We need a couple more players," said Amoruso, who's in line for his Premiership debut against Wolves.

"Don't forget we've sold six senior players and just three new players have come in with myself, Brett (Emerton) and Reidy (Steven Reid).

"The manager is looking at buying another couple of players so we have a bigger squad because during a long season, especially as we are in the UEFA Cup, there will be suspensions and injuries.

"So hopefully if we get a bigger squad, a good squad, and the manager can work on it, then we will have more chances to do well."