Rotherham United: Paul Warne reacts to speculation linking Julien Lamy with Birmingham City

The Frenchman has played just three times for the Millers since his move to England in the summer, so a transfer to the Championship side seems unlikely.

Still, rumours emerged that Blues were keen on the 20-year-old, but it was news to Warne.

"Birmingham? Wow, that would be some step for Julien, no disrespect to him," he said. "I haven't heard anything. If Carlsberg did agents!

"I have had no contact through my club or through my phone from Birmingham.”

Lamy originally arrived on trial at the Millers in the back end of last season and did enough to earn a deal in the summer.

But he suffered an injury in the opening pre-season friendly and has struggled to make an impact with Warne's League One promotion-chasers.

Two of his three appearances have been in the EFL Trophy while he has made just one league appearance, coming off the bench against Oxford in October.

Warne, who invited Lamy around to his house on Christmas Day, sees something in his player, but knows it is going to take time.

"Julien has definitely got something. We're just trying to get it out of him,” Warne added.

"I think Julien's done okay. When he trains, he trains well. When he plays in the reserves, he does okay.

"If you want to play in the first team you need to be the best player on the pitch for the ressies. When he's played in first-team games he's done okay. He hasn't done enough to cement himself in the first team.”

“We are trying to do loads with him on his out-of-possession stuff. With the ball at his feet he's fine. He struggles a bit more with the out-of-possession stuff.

"He's come over here from France, he's been here for only a few months and he's played a handful of first-team games. That's more than you'll see at other clubs.

"I know he's probably frustrated that he's not playing every game but I could say that about another eight or nine of my players.

"He's an improving work in progress really. Hopefully, sooner or later he will get in the team and stay in on merit."