Blackburn Rovers are still waiting to discover if Chelsea will match their £17m asking price for Damien Duff.

Chelsea have made Duff a top transfer target and have had two bids rejected for the Republic of Ireland winger.

BBC Sport understands the two offers were £13m and £15m - now Blackburn are bracing themselves for a third and final offer from new Stamford Bridge owner Roman Abramovich.

But Blackburn are under no financial pressure to sell and Chelsea will need to meet their demand for £17m to activate a release clause in Duff's contract.

Rovers chief executive John Williams said: "We have received two offers and we have rejected them. There has been no further contact."

Williams admitted the bids were "close" to the figure that would allow Chelsea to open talks with Duff.

Duff negotiated a release clause in his contract when he signed a new four-year deal at Blackburn last season.

The Rovers chief executive continued: "It depends how serious Chelsea are about wanting to sign him. There is a release clause in the contract he negotiated last year.

"If conditions are met with the bid naturally we would be obliged to let Damien talk to Chelsea - or any other club who met them and the decision would rest with the player.

"There has been intense press speculation and I don't think it's fair to talk about the amounts (of the bids).

"But a very serious bid has been made and rejected - and we want the player to stay."

Blackburn boss Graeme Souness said he was not surprised at the amount of interest in Duff.

"I don't want to lose Damien - we always knew Damien was a very special player," said Souness.

"We have no intention of selling him and we want to keep him here.

"But when Damien signed his new contract last summer he did so in the knowledge that someone could come in and offer a lot of money."

The London club have money to spend in the transfer market following the takeover at Stamford Bridge by Russian billionaire Abramovich.

A host of other top players from around Europe have been linked with Chelsea and an undisclosed fee - thought to be £6m - has been agreed with West Ham for Glen Johnson.