LUCIEN Mettomo's proposed move to Ewood Park has hit a snag and been put on ice for the next few days pending further checks on his medical record.

The financial aspect of the deal with French club St Etienne has been completed and Mettomo watched Rovers in action on Tuesday night.

But after medical tests yesterday the £4.6 million move has stalled and Mettomo has returned to France while Rovers await developments.

A statement from Rovers today confirmed: "Having agreed a deal with St Etienne and a fee of £4.6 million, Lucien Mettomo watched our Worthington Cup tie against Portsmouth on Tuesday night.

"He then spent much of Wednesday having an extensive medical examination with our consultant in Manchester -- an important procedure in a transfer of this scale.

"Our medical staff are now in dialogue with their counterparts at St Etienee over Lucien's full medical history.

"We don't expect any further developments before the weekend and in the meantime Lucien has returned home to France."

It appears that the usual pre-transfer medical showed up some kind of problem which Rovers are now keen to investigate thoroughly before deciding whether to pursue the on-off deal.

It may be that reassurances from the French end can allow the move to go ahead -- possibly even for a re-negotiated fee. But if it is called off, Mettomo could face a frosty reception on his return with St Etienne coach Robert Nouzaret today being reported to have made an astonishing attack on the Cameroon under-21 international.

Nouzaret is reported as saying: "He must come back, but only to play with the reserve team. He must endure the life of a coward. He does not even have the guts to come and talk to us.

"You don't abandon your friends when you have a collective project.

"The players no longer respect their contracts. They earn 300,000 Francs per month and if you kick their backsides, they call you a dictator.

"Fortunately, there are some who are sane. I hope this story will result in an incredible backlash for the player. The swine in life will always pay one day. Even if they are coaches or players."

Meanwhile, Rovers are waiting to hear from Paris St Germain before ending Kaba Diawara's short stay at Ewood.

West Ham are considering a move for the striker, who has failed to hit it off with Rovers.

And Rovers chief executive John Williams confirmed that Blackburn are ready to terminate the agreement should another club be keen to sign the former Arsenal front man.

Even if that doesn't happen, Diawara could return to France if the Paris club want him back in light of his likely non-involvement in Rovers plans from now on.

Newcastle United are yet to follow up their interest in defender Christian Dailly with a formal approach.