BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness is ready to splash the cash in a bid to beef up his striking resources in the wake of Marcus Bent's imminent move to Ipswich.

Souness could have as much as £10 million to spend on reinforcements if Bent completes his £3 million move to Portman Road and Napoli follow up with a big money offer for unsettled striker Ciccio Grabbi.

But the Ewood chief has delivered a word of caution to any fans expecting a world class replacement by insisting Rovers need to adopt a realistic view when they come to do their shopping.

"We have a budget to work with and we know we can't go out and buy the finished article," said Souness.

"We've either got to buy someone young who has shown a great deal of promise or we can go the other way and sign someone who is perhaps coming towards the end of their career.

"But that's not really a road we want to go down.

"So when we shop, there's an element of risk, as there is with everyone you buy.

"I know we are in the Premier League but we can't go out and buy an Alan Shearer or a Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink."

"That's a fact of life, it's something I knew before I came to the club, and it's something I accept."

Inter Milan striker Hakan Sukur has already been touted as a possible target but Souness has played down those suggestions.

"You've got to remember he's currently playing at one of the biggest clubs in the world.

"So, although he might not cost too much in terms of a transfer fee, you can bet your bottom dollar that he will have a very, very large salary.

"And what would that do to my dressing room?"

Souness also admitted thoughts of signing Liverpool's Robbie Fowler remain a 'pipedream' although he has made no secret of his admiration for the player.

"Who in the Premiership wouldn't like Robbie Fowler? He's a 25-goal-a-season man and, in my opinion, he reprsents the difference between finishing mid-table and challenging for Europe."