Blackburn Rovers chairman Robert Coar strongly denied reports today that Graeme Le Saux was poised to join Premiership rivals Arsenal for £4 million.

The England full back is believed to have held talks with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger in Hertfordshire yesterday when the Rovers players were given a day off training.

But Coar dismissed the reports out of hand and said: "There has been no approach by Arsenal or by any other club for Graeme.

"The situation has not changed at Blackburn and none of our first team players are for sale. The story is likely to be unfounded."

Le Saux, though, is reported to be keen to return South and an unofficial approach for him cannot be ruled out.

He was rated one of England's better performers when he earned his 13th cap in the 1-0 World Cup defeat by Italy last month, and is seen as a perfect replacement for Nigel Winterburn.

Le Saux, 28, proved one of Kenny Dalglish's most successful signings for Blackburn after arriving from Chelsea in 1993.

The classy defender signed a long-term contract with Blackburn after playing a major role in helping Rovers to the Premiership title in 1995 and is now fully recovered from a fractured right ankle which sidelined him for a year.

Meanwhile, Chris Sutton is unlikely to be ready to return for Blackburn Rovers against FA Cup semi-finalists Wimbledon at Ewood on Saturday.

But caretaker-boss Tony Parkes hopes the £5 million striker, now back in training after a severe chest infection, will be up for consideration next week when Rovers have Premiership dates with Middlesbrough and Aston Villa. And Graham Fenton, sidelined for several weeks with a knee ligament injury, has also targeted the game against his former club Villa to challenge for a place in the squad.

With just 10 games to go on the relegation run-in, Parkes will welcome the two-fold tonic if he can add the strikers and Ian Pearce, who played in last night's reserve game at Derby, to his list of options.

He said: "Chris has now done a couple of days training, he's coming along and the quicker we have him available again the better.

"But he's had some time off with this illness and we don't want to rush him back too quickly. He's also lost some weight but he shouldn't have any probelm putting that back.

"Saturday is probably a little bit too soon for him but I would hope he could figure some time next week."

Fenton, meanwhile, decided a full week's training would be better for him than playing for the reserves last night.

"I'm okay now and I want to get a full week behind me, hopefully play for the reserves next Wednesday and be available for the game against Villa," said the striker.

"That's my aim."

Parkes will be the last to complain if he is spoiled for choice in the near future. He has been walking a tightrope as far as some areas of the team are concerned, underlined by Colin Hendry's injury situation.

Stuart Ripley has now had three reserve games and should also be ready to challenge for a place in the first team squad.

George Donis has not been able to be considered since the victory over Sunderland when he damaged an ankle.

At the moment, however, there is only one long-term senior casualty, Chris Coleman, who is unlikely to feature at first-team level again this season.

Liverpool today rubbished reports that former Rovers target Marek Citko was lined-up for a move to Anfield to replace Stan Collymore. The Polish striker, who wants to become a priest, had a last minute change of heart on a move to Ewood and decided to sign a new deal with Widwez Lodz.

Peter Robinson, chief executive of Liverpool, said: "The only time we have seen him is on video. The whole thing is nonsense."

Henning Berg has been selected in a Norwegian squad to visit the United Arab Emirates at the end of March when Premiership fixtures again take a break because of international dates.

There is no place for Lars Bohinen, who has been given a one-match ban for topping 21 disciplinary points, but he has not been discounted from Norway's next World Cup qualifier against Finland on April 30.

Three players are said in Norway to be fighting for one place, Bohinen, Molde's Petter Rudi and Erik Mykland, who plays for Austrian side Linz.

Rovers' B team drew 4-4 with Crewe at Brockhall yesterday. Michael Lomax, Junior Obeng, David Dunn and Graham Cassin were the scorers.

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