LUCIEN Mettomo was set to fly into the country this afternoon to put the final touches to his on-off move to Blackburn Rovers.

The protracted deal with St Etienne is at last set to be completed with the central defender undergoing a medical before putting pen to paper on a Rovers contract.

"It's not done and dusted but we are moving closer. We're down to the levels of player medicals and things like that. It's just about sorted out between the clubs," confirmed Ewood Park chief executive John Williams.

Despite reports to the contrary, Rovers aren't thought to have raised their offer from the £4.6 million bid they lodged last week.

And that, allied to Mettomo's desire to join Rovers, has finally been enough to prise the Cameroon under-21 international away from France.

Personal terms have been "more or less finalised" according to Mettomo's agent, Willy McKay, and the player is desperate to launch his Blackburn career.

"He's over the moon," said McKay.

"He is only concerned with one thing and that's getting Blackburn into the Premier League.

"There have been a couple of hiccups but now he's looking forward to carrying that through."

Provided there are no late hitches the deal is expected to be finalised tomorrow, although Mettomo could be presented to the Rovers supporters at tonight's Worthington Cup second-round, first-leg against Portsmouth if things progress more quickly.

While Mettomo, who had threatened to return to Cameroon if St Etienne continued to block the move, is set to arrive, Steve Harkness may be on his way out of Ewood.

The former Liverpool defender, who was signed from Benfica last season, has turned down the chance to join Sheffield Wednesday on loan but would not appear to be part of manager Graeme Souness's long-term plans.

Hearts' Scottish international Gary Naysmith has been touted as a possible replacement but he is not on Rovers' shopping list.