BLACKBURN Rovers central defender Ryan Nelsen is not for sale.

That's the message coming from Ewood Park after Portsmouth enquired about the New Zealand star's availability last night.

The 28-year-old has been a revelation since joining Rovers in January 2005, even wearing the captain's armband in Andy Todd's absence, and is the kingpin of Mark Hughes' defensive unit.

Nelsen signed a new deal last summer that would keep him at the club until 2008 and Rovers are adamant they want him to stay.

Reports elsewhere, stating that Pompey had actually tabled a bid for the former DC United defender, are wide of the mark.

But Rovers chairman John Williams said: "We can confirm that we had an enquiry from Portsmouth but they were told unequivocally that he is not for sale."

Nelsen is just one of a number of players to be linked with a move to Fratton Park this summer after Russian co-owner Alexandre Gaydamak pumped his millions into the club.

Sol Campbell and former Rovers target Stilian Petrov head a seemingly endless list said to interest Pompey boss Harry Redknapp.