BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness faces a summer of wheeling and dealing in the transfer market in his quest to establish Rovers as a top eight Premiership club.

With virtually every club in the land currently feeling the pinch financially, it's no surprise to hear that Souness will have trade before he can buy.

That means fringe players like Craig Hignett, Alan Mahon, Ciccio Grabbi and John Curtis could all be off-loaded in order to make way for a clutch of new faces.

Ideally, Souness would like to bring in at least four new players to freshen up his squad in preparation for another assault on Europe.

"I want four new faces but we certainly need three given the natural wastage we are going to have with certain players coming to the end of their contracts," said Souness.

One of those targets is on-loan defender Vratislav Gresko who has made a big impression during his short time at the club.

But the prospect of other new faces joining him depends largely on the manager's success in moving players out, which is going to be difficult given the financial situation in the Nationwide League.

Out-of-favour midfielder Hignett has already ruled out a return to Coventry City next season.

Blues boss Gary McAllister made Hignett one of his prime targets after the former Barnsley man impressed during a loan spell at Highfield Road earlier this season.

But the 33-year-old, who still has a year to run on his contract at Ewood, says City's financial problems could ultimately scupper a move.

"When you look at the finances at the club I would say it is not going to happen," said Hignett.

"I had a mixed time with the club. I got sent off quite early on in my spell but when I came back things really started to take off.

"We went on a very good run building up to Christmas and got ourselves up to fifth or sixth in the table.

"But then I broke my leg which was obviously very disappointing.

"I still expected Coventry to be up there challenging for the play-offs at this stage of the season. That hasn't happened, though, but you can't blame Gary McAllister because finances at the club have made things very difficult for him."

Hignett joined the Sky Blues in November and helped McAllister's side to four straight wins -- a sequence of results which put them in contention for the play-offs.

However, he then suffered a broken leg in a 0-0 draw with Sheffield United between Christmas and New Year, which resulted in him returning to Ewood early, and the Sky Blues have mustered just one win in the league in the four months since.

"At the time, it was right for me when I joined Coventry this season because I needed first team games and I really enjoyed my time with the club," he said.

"But I'm not really looking at going out on loan next season because I couldn't afford to pick up another injury like I did at Coventry when I am looking for a permanent move.

"I would find it difficult to go out on loan again after that experience."

Cardiff could still come in with a permanent offer for Mahon, depending on whether they get promoted via the Second Division play-offs.

But off-loading Grabbi remains the number one priority, which could prove difficult given the wages he is on.