BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness is ready to raid his old club Liverpool for classy defender Markus Babbel.

Ewood chief Souness has opened talks with the German's agent about a move for the former Bayern Munich star.

And, as I understand it, Babbel is keen on a switch to Ewood after falling out of favour with Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier.

However, any prospect of the 31-year-old becoming a Rovers player next week now hinges on him being able to negotiate a severance payment with the Reds over the next couple of days.

"I've been told that Markus's agent has been talking to Blackburn," confirmed Houllier last night.

Babbel made a big impression at Anfield when he initially joined the Reds from Bayern in July 2000, helping the Merseysiders to a Cup treble in his debut season.

However, the former German international then got struck down by Guillan-Barre Syndrome -- a debilitating illness which attacks the nervous system -- and that kept him out for the whole of the following campaign.

At one point, it was even feared that the defender may never play again but he bravely fought his way back to full fitness, eventually regaining his first team place.

He then fell out with Houllier after the Kop chief subbed him before half-time in a game against Aston Villa and the pair have never seen eye-to-eye since.

Last season, Houllier even took the unusual step of publicly criticising the player's attitude at one point after he got sent off for the second time in the reserves.

Now he's willing to get the player off his wage-bill by granting him a free transfer following the signing of Fulham's Steve Finnan in the summer.

"Markus came back very well from his illness last year but I've since signed Steve Finnan in the summer and I just don't know where I could fit him in," added Houllier.

Babbel is available on a free but he's one of the highest wage-earners at Anfield and would have to take a significant pay-cut in order to secure a move to Rovers.

Meanwhile, Souness received a boost last night when Australian midfielder Brett Emerton was cleared to play in today's game against Wolves.

The Dutch Football Association have decided to overturn a suspension on the former Feyenoord star, leaving him clear to make his debut.

An FA spokesperson said: "We have been informed that the ban has been reversed and is no longer active, leaving the player eligible to play."