BLACKBURN Rovers today denied any bids have been received for Graeme Le Saux.

Originally, Le Saux was supposed to be heading South, according to the newspaper reports, following his summer wedding.

Now he is being linked with former boss Kenny Dalglish, with more unsettling stories doing the rounds.

Rovers chairman Robert Coar, however, said today that the club had not received offers for ANY of their players.

That also rules out, for the moment, speculation that Sunderland have been asking about striker Graham Fenton.

The club have been consistent in their position over Le Saux and they hope, and believe, that he will be starting the season with them.

Manager Roy Hodgson expressed similar sentiments when he arrived to take charge in the middle of last week.

There is little doubt some players will be moving on before the start of the season, providing there is interest in them.

But Rovers want to keep their key men - like Le Saux - and it would be a surprise if any of their stars were allowed to leave.

Newcastle are due to contact Rovers about goalkeeper Shay Given who is joining them under freedom of contract.

But, even though Given's Ewood contract expired at the end of June, they haven't done so yet.

The ball is in their court over that transfer. They are expected to make an offer but it is unlikely to be anything like the sort of price that Rovers will require. Once the clubs start talking and it is apparent that agreement cannot be reached, the date for a tribunal can be arranged.

Newcastle did threaten at the end of the season that they might try to get Given on a free transfer, challenging the domestic system following Bosman.

It remains to be seen whether they take such a far-reaching step.

Meanwhile, Rovers have opened negotiations with Coventry City over the transfer of goalkeeper John Filan - another out-of-contract player.

Australian international Filan has completed his move to Ewood but the fee has still to be settled and I understand there is quite a gulf between what Coventry are asking and how much Rovers are prepared to offer.The keeper cost just over £300,000 when he moved from Cambridge to Highfield Road and has had only limited Premiership experience.

Transfer talks over the incoming deals regarding Martin Dahlin from Roma and Anders Andersson (Malmo) are still ongoing, with the club hopeful of completing both moves in the near future.

Damien Duff underlined his outstanding potential once again as the Republic of Ireland claimed third place at the World Youth Championships (under-20s) in Malaysia.

The Ewood starlet scored the Irish winner in a 2-1 third/fourth place play-off game against Ghana to secure his country's best-ever finish in a world-ranking tournament.

Left winger Duff earned all-round praise for his performances during the competition and Rovers had other representatives in the Irish squad.

Defender David Worrell was a regular in the side and Tom Morgan, who has been released this summer, skippered the Republic from midfield.

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