Soccer:Blackburn tonight announced they have received a written offer from West Ham for striker Benni McCarthy.
The Hammers had been linked with the South Africa international after manager Sam Allardyce said earlier this month he could leave.
However, the player has not impressed the Rovers boss by failing to turn up for his last two training sessions.
"We are very disappointed with Benni's non-appearance for training and will deal with it separately should he remain here after the transfer window has closed," said the Rovers boss.
"We have said all along that we will listen to offers, but only
agree to sell if both the commercial and football reasons satisfy Blackburn Rovers. That situation remains unchanged."
Although Allardyce will have no qualms about off-loading McCarthy he will not do so unless he can find an adequate replacement.
However, the player's refusal to attend training means his chances of having a future at Ewood Park are slim.
West Ham are in the market for a big-name striker having gone public with their interest in former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.
New co-owner David Sullivan said the debt-ridden club were prepared to pay the Real Madrid forward €118,000-a-week but the Dutchman snubbed them for German side Hamburg.
West Ham's joint chairman David Gold defended the club's big-money offer for Van Nistelrooy despite their perilous financial state, insisting the player's ability and the length of contract on offer meant it was not a great risk.
"Let me just state on the record that there is a big difference when you are paying a player €118,000 for four months to paying someone €59,000 for a four-year contract," he said.
"I wouldn't want people to say we were mad to be paying €118,000, if we were paying that on a four or five-year contract maybe we would be mad but for a super player like that I felt, and David Sullivan felt, it was good business.
"We've really gone the extra mile and what we must be pleased about, what I'm pleased about as a West Ham fan, is that we have stopped the sale of two, maybe three top players.
"That is the main prize and the bonus is if we can now bring in one or two players."
Gold went on to declare his confidence that manager Gianfranco Zola would lead the side to Premier League safety.
"We've got a football club that hasn't had leaders. It has been in many ways a rudderless ship.
"David (Gold) and Karren (Brady) are two of the best people to help that. I know I'm tempting fate but I believe we can pull out of the relegation zone and that we can take (the club) to the next step, which is securing the future of the football club."