BLACKBURN Rovers have blocked Stockport County's attempts to sign giant defender Martin Taylor.

County boss Andy Kilner wanted to take Taylor to Edgeley Park after he impressed there last season during a spell on loan.

But Rovers chief Graeme Souness has insisted the 20-year-old is going nowhere -- prompting County to turn their attentions to West Bromwich Albion's George Santos.

"I had a conversation with someone from Stockport where they asked informally about Martin Taylor," said Rovers chief executive John Williams today.

"But I told them he is not a player the manager wants to sell and that was the end of it."

County yesterday snapped up four players as manager Andy Kilner looks to inject a bit of youth into his squad.

But he has now accepted defeat in his bid to land Taylor.

Meanwhile, Souness believes Rovers will be able to off-load the players he has deemed surplus to requirements this summer -- despite the fact some of them are currently on big wages.

The likes of Nathan Blake and Keith Gillespie joined Rovers when they were still in the Premiership and few -- if any -- current First Division clubs will struggle to match their wages. Souness, however, feels personal pride is ultimately more important to a player than the size of his pay-packet.

And he believes those players may be prepared to take a pay-cut in order to resurrect their careers at another club.

"It's a great time to be a player and we are not unique," said Souness.

"We do have a few players who are surplus to requirements but we are only going to let them go if it's a good deal for the football club.

"But I think pride comes into it as well and if you have anything about you then you want to be playing every week in the first team.

"And I'm sure we have a group of players here who are good professionals and want to do just that."