NOWOTNY NOT FOR SALE - CALMUND

Calmund would not reveal who tabled the offer, but it may well have been Serie A giants Milan, as they have been monitoring the German international`s progress for some time and are likely to have a defensive vacancy available following the imminent sale of Roberto Ayala to Valencia.

Despite the massive bid, Calmund dismissed the offer out of hand.

"There is no discussion on this subject," he declared. "Jens is not for sale, not even for an offer as large as this one."

The 26-year-old is contracted to Bayer until 2006, but his sparkling play has attracted the attention of Milan coach Alberto Zaccheroni, and he may have made a move after failing to land other targets Martin Djetou and Antonio Carlos Zago in recent weeks.

However, it would now appear that any clubs who approach Calmund about the availability of Nowotny are likely to receive short shrift.