Leave Duff alone, warns Souness

Graeme Souness pointed an accusing finger at his old club Liverpool last night and claimed they were guilty of 'a wind-up' over their bid to sign Damien Duff.

The Blackburn manager reacted furiously to rumours of a derisory £10million bid for his Republic of Ireland winger on the eve of the new Premiership season.

Souness is angry that the latest stories surrounding Duff could have an unsettling effect on the 23-yearold, and clearly feels that the leak is coming from Anfield.

He said: 'We do not appreciate these kind of stories that are coming out. The information is coming from somewhere and the people giving it know it's not true.

'There is a wind-up going on here which is all a bit unfair.'

Liverpool were reported to have tabled a £10m opening offer for Duff, having already made two enquiries in the close season as Gerard Houllier seeks his missing link on the left flank.

But Souness categorically denied a bid, saying: 'We have not had an offer in the last 24 hours or the last 24 months. We're not telling lies when we say that.

'We have not encouraged an offer and don't want one. He is not for sale and we have not had a single bid at any time while I have been at the club.'

Souness has publicly stated that it would take £20m or more to prise Duff away from Ewood Park, in the light of his outstanding performances for Ireland in the World Cup this summer. He is unhappy that Liverpool's interest has lingered and feels there is background interference that should not be allowed.

Duff - a boyhood Liverpool supporter - has been in contract talks with Blackburn this summer, and the club still hope that he will stay even for one more season with the option to leave next year.

The longer Blackburn hold out, the greater the pressure on Liverpool, who need to move fast in the knowledge that Manchester United will surely join the race for Duff when they bring in enough millions to enter the bidding.

But the Anfield club were also officially denying the reports last night, with spokesman Ian Cotton insisting: 'We have not made a bid for the player.'

In the middle of the row is Duff 's adviser Pat Devlin, who used to scout for Liverpool and Blackburn. He is now helping steer the future of his protege between his two former employers.

The harsh reality of the transfer market was underlined by tribunal panels yesterday as two top young talents, Delroy Facey and Tyrone Mears, moved for knock-down fees.

Premiership club Bolton Wanderers have been ordered to pay just £100,000 for Huddersfield striker Facey, and they will be happy to hand over any extra cash based on appearances.

Preston North End have to find only £50,000 for talented full back Mears, who had made one League appearance for Manchester City.

Despite the low figure, Preston chief executive Tony Scholes said: 'The fee set by the tribunal is higher than we would have expected given the current situation in the transfer market.'

Both Huddersfield and City wanted far bigger sums, but the tribunal committee weighed up the arguments and put them in the light of the current climate.