Souness said: "I do not want to work without Damien. As far as I'm concerned it's vital that he stays. He is a fantastic player and a fantastic lad and I want to see him here for a long time.
"It would take a very special offer to make me change my mind. We have got where we are this season without him for the majority of the time. But he can be the difference in games like he was against Charlton.
"There have been games we have lost or drawn where we might have had more points with him in the side."