Neill spoke with the Hammers on Friday with regard to a move to
Upton Park, and has already confirmed he intends to sign a deal
with the London club.
Hughes was forced to do without skipper Neill for their 3-0 win at
Manchester City, a victory that enabled Blackburn to climb back
into the top half of the Barclays Premiership table for the first
time in three months.
But Hughes, who lost Holland defender Andre Ooijer with a suspected
broken ankle during the game, insists he does not plan on letting
his skipper leave unless he finds a replacement.
He said: We will have to wait and see.
I cannot really tell you one way or the other what is happening on
that.
We allowed Lucas to go down and speak to West Ham yesterday
(Friday), and he had a medical while he was down there.
As I have always said I want to know we are not going to be weaker
as a consequence of Lucas leaving, so exactly as we were.
We are not going to let Lucas join unless we get a replacement,
and nothing as yet has been agreed.
The Australia international confirmed his plan to join the Hammers
in an interview with Sydneys Sunday Telegraph.
Neill said: People who have raised their eyebrows at me for making
this decision are in for a surprise because West ham have a
shopping list of players which almost blew me away.
It was an extremely hard decision but I know it's the right one.
West Ham moved heaven and earth to sign me.
I supported them as a kid and I know people are going to give me
stick for not choosing them.
Neill was persuaded to join West Ham by chairman Eggert
Magnusson.
He added: It took me all of two minutes to be convinced I wasn't
making a mistake when Mr Magnusson told me about his plans for the
club.
"What he said almost knocked me off me feet.
"He told me I'm the first of many (new signings) earmarked for the
club.
"I can be part of something big here. West Ham are very well
supported. They just happen to be at the wrong end of the table at
the moment but I hope to play my part in helping remedy that.
"They were two minutes away from winning the FA Cup final last
season and have not suddenly become a bad team.
Neill claims he has a get-out clause built into his deal should the
Hammers be relegated and admits: It's a calculated gamble. It
won't be a glamorous three months but once we secure safety people
won't question my motives any more.
I believe I will have the last laugh. People will soon be talking
about West Ham in a very different way.