BLACKBURN defender Lucas Neill today said Rovers would face an impossible task in trying to replace Damien Duff if he ever moved to Chelsea.

New Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has already had two official bids rejected for the Republic of Ireland winger in the last few days.

Reports claiming Duff has already agreed a fee with Chelsea are wide of the mark.

Rovers chief executive John Williams told the Evening Telegraph this morning: "We've had no further communication from Chelsea.

"It's not an ideal sutuation. I just hope the matter is resolved as quickly as possible, and we can get on with our preparations for the new season."

However, Rovers fear the Russian could now come back in with a new, improved third offer of £17 million which would trigger a release clause in Duff's contract.

That would then render Rovers powerless to prevent Chelsea from opening talks with the Republic of Ireland international.

Although Neill admits £17 million represents a huge sum for a player in the current financial climate, he insists Duff's importance to Rovers effectively makes him irreplaceable.

"I would hate to lose Duffer. That would be a huge blow to us," said Neill.

"Whoever you tried to replace him with, it would still be a huge loss.

"The kind of money Chelsea are throwing around is frightening and £15 million is a lot to reject in this day and age.

"He (Abramovich) has turned the game upside down. Everyone is currently in financial trouble but he's just started throwing around ridiculous money again, which is something everyone else is trying to avoid.

"That's made it very hard for clubs in the situations they are in to reject the offers but some players like Thierry Henry are irreplaceable, as Arsene Wenger said, no matter how much money you are offered.

"And I would put Damien Duff in the same category."

Neill, who recently signed a brand new four year contract with Rovers, admits news of Chelsea's offers for Duff came as no surprise to the rest of the squad.

Duff's future has remained the subject of intense speculation for months with Liverpool and Manchester United both firmly linked with the player.

But Ewood officials thought they had priced him out of a move elsewhere until Abramovich arrived in England armed with a personal fortune of £200 million.

"It's not a shock. It was expected because it's Duffer and he's such a good player," said Neill.

"This guy at Chelsea seems to be trying to get in with the fans by throwing every name at them he can to make it look as though he's really doing something for the club.

"Duffer's not the only big name player who has been linked with Chelsea but, of all the high profile ones, he has yet to land any.

"So hopefully we can make Duffer another he can't land.

"If we could hold onto him then I think he could help us do even better than last year.

"But without him, we'd all have to work that little bit harder."