IT was only after the dictaphones, iPhones and microphones were switched off that Blackburn Rovers boss Gary Bowyer best expressed how he will be spending the January transfer window.

‘Spinning plates’.

It is an apt description as, while the transfer embargo placed on the club will not make it impossible for him to bolster his ranks, it will undoubtedly make it more challenging.

And not to mention more complicated.

Rovers will still be able to make free transfers and loan signings next month provided their squad contains fewer than 24 ‘established’ players and provided they do not pay each new arrival more than £600,000 a year.

‘Established’ players are those who were aged 21 or above on June 30 this year and who have made at least five first-team starts for their current club.

As things stand Rovers have 23 ‘established’ players if you include Bradley Orr whose year-long loan from FC Toronto officially expires on January 1.

That number could increase, however, if Fleetwood Town opt against extending Josh Morris’ loan deal, which expires on January 3, and if Derby County decide to send back Leon Best.

Both Best and Morris would be classed as ‘established’ players.

But that number could decrease if Fulham, Bolton Wanderers and Middlesbrough decide to activate break clauses in the season-long loan contracts of Ryan Tunnicliffe, Alex Baptiste and Jason Steele respectively.

Little wonder, then, that Bowyer has plenty to ponder.

He said: “What we can’t do is make any transfers in terms of fees paid – and that includes loan fees.

“We are able to bring in loans and if there was a player that was out of contract we would be able to try and sign him.

“But realistically speaking if a player is out of contract in January he’ll be out of contract for a reason so we’d have to look at that one very, very carefully.

“We’ve got players out on loan and players in on loan so we’ll have to see what clubs do with that situation as well before we actually go ahead and see where we are at.

“Obviously plans are in place, you have to have a list of players drawn up and fortunately we’ve made inroads on that.

“But it is a bit of waiting game.”

Goalkeeper Steele’s contract at Boro runs out in the summer and when he becomes a free agent Rovers would be able to sign him.

“We can’t do anything in January but obviously there are things that we can look at in that situation with Steeley,” said Bowyer, who will continue discussions with Derby and Fleetwood over Best’s and Morris’ immediate futures.

“There are three parties involved but obviously Middlesbrough will have the biggest say as he’s their player.”

One player definitely on his way back to Rovers is Jordan Slew after Port Vale manager Rob Page confirmed he would not be extending his loan after it expires on January 3.

The striker has scored two goals in nine games for the League One outfit with his last appearance coming on October 25.

Slew has six months remaining on the four-year deal he signed after Steve Kean paid £1.1m to bring him to Ewood Park in August 2011.

The 22-year-old will not be considered an ‘established’ player as he has never made a first-team start for Rovers.