BLACKBURN Rovers have denied making an increased offer for Cameroon defender Lucien Mettomo.

Reports from France had suggested that Rovers had upped their bid from £4.6million to £7million for the 23-year-old St Etienne player.

But chief executive John Williams today insisted: "We have not had our offer accepted or rejected.

"It is still on the table but that situation cannot go on forever. If it remains the situation after the weekend we might have to talk about it again and maybe look elsewhere."

Mettomo is refusing to play for the French club, claiming they went back on their word to allow him to leave.

He has not turned up for training since the weekend and his whereabouts today remained a mystery.

But Mettomo has insisted that Rovers are the only club he will move to, threatening to return to Cameroon for three years unless he gets his way.

He was quoted as saying yesterday: "I'm tired and I don't feel right mentally. I'll have to see the club doctor during the day."

The messages coming from France yesterday, however, were not promising.

St Etienne coach Robert Nouzaret said: "We've decided we would hold to our position, and Mettomo won't leave."

Nouzaret slammed the player's decision to skip training after they turned down Blackburn's improved bid.

"Maybe he won't play anymore or he won't get paid either. That's his choice.

"The English First Division is not what I call ambition." St Etienne's president Alain Bombard is also adamant Mettomo will not leave the club and said: "We won't follow up the proposition made by Blackburn concerning Lucien Mettomo. "The club intends to maintain the stability of the group and to confirm their European ambitions."

But Mettomo's agent Wille MacKay remains confident of completing the switch to Blackburn and is expecting a positive response from St Etienne at any time.

Williams also admitted that discussions were continuing with Celtic about a swap deal involving Eyal Berkovic and Christian Dailly.

Celtic wanted Dailly plus £2million but Rovers are holding out for a straight swap, with money possibly being piad to Celtic should promotion be achieved.

Williams said: "There has been no dialogue between either player and either club. The two clubs are talking but there is distance between us." It has also emerged that Chelsea midfielder Dennis Wise was a summer target for Souness.

But the England international decided to stay at Stamford Bridge following the lure of a coaching role, prior to the dismissal of Gianluca Vialli.

Ewood chief Academy scout Jack Chapman has become the chief youth scout at Bolton.

Young Rovers full back Steve Hawe has returned after his month's loan period at Blackpool was dogged by a hamstring injury.

He said: "I was hoping it might have provided a springboard for me to make a challenge for inclusion in the first team squad at Blackburn."

Rovers reserves take on Manchester United tonight at Gigg Lane, 7pm start.