Rovers' chief executive John Williams last night admitted the chances of signing Benni McCarthy look bleak, even though the player appears to have set his heart on a move to Ewood Park.

Mark Hughes' number one transfer target is desperate to secure a lucrative move to the Premiership and he has revealed he would rather than join Rovers than sign for big-spending Chelsea this summer.

So far, Hughes has already had two bids rejected for the 27-year-old striker - the second believed to be in the region of five million euros (or £3.5 million).

Porto are thought to be holding out for a fee closer to nine million euros (or £6 million), and with little sign of the 2004 UEFA Champions League winners lowering their asking price, Williams claims the prospect of striking a deal looks remote.

"I have to say the transfer has moved further away over the last week and I have no reason to be optimistic on this one," said Williams.

"Although we are not throwing in

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the towel, the chances are slim. We have engaged in dialogue with Porto but basically the sticking point is the difference between what they are asking and our valuation.

"If we can't get there, we can't get there."

McCarthy has been the man at the top of Hughes' wish list from day one and the player himself is attracted by the prospect of playing for the Welshman next season after hearing glowing reports about the revolution taking place at Ewood from his international team-mate Aaron Mokoena.

Chelsea have also been linked with a swoop for McCarthy, who was an integral member of the Porto side that enjoyed great success under Jose Mourinho two seasons ago.

But McCarthy feels the lure of regular first team football at Rovers would be in his best interests at such a crucial stage in his career.

Responding to recent speculation regarding his future, the Porto frontman said: "It is enough in reading the declarations of the Blackburn manager.

"I have the certainty to know I would not lack support from him, that I would be his first choice and I would not run the risk of spending the season watching my team-mates play, as eventually would be the case if I went to a club of the type of Manchester United or Chelsea.

"No, I am not lacking esteem. I am being as realistic as possible.

"I am not the big star that Chelsea and Manchester buy for millions of euros.

"I am a good player who, at Blackburn Rovers, could easily acquire the necessary experience in a championship as fascinating as the English one, to later make a leap to a club of a bigger dimension, such as Manchester or Chelsea."

McCarthy is still hopeful a deal can be thrashed out in the next few weeks, despite the tough stance currently being taken by Porto in regard to his asking price.

"Despite the difficulties that exist in the negotiations, I still do not stop believing in being transferred," he added, in an interview with A Bola.

Hughes has not given up all hope of signing McCarthy, although he admitted in a recent interview with the Evening Telegraph that a deal would be difficult to broker unless Porto have a change of heart.

"The ball is in their court, basically, so we'll have to wait and see," said Hughes.

"He's a player who I think would be very good for us and that's why we've pursued him so vigorously, but at the moment, the situation is very difficult."