Blackburn chairman John Williams has revealed the club would not allow Dominic Matteo to go out on loan to Sheffield United or anywhere else.
The former Liverpool and Leeds defender is reportedly a Blades target, although Bramall Lane boss Neil Warnock brought in Neill Collins from Sunderland before their derby clash with Sheffield Wednesday.
Williams told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph: "We've not had any contact from Sheffield United about Dominic as yet.
"But it's highly unlikely we'd let him go out on loan anyway because we need all our senior players for the run-in."