BLACKBURN Rovers boss Steve Kean has hailed an ‘excellent’ January transfer window after beating the clock to sign Ruben Rochina and Mauro Formica yesterday.

The young duo join earlier loan signings Roque Santa Cruz and Jermaine Jones in arriving at Ewood Park this month with Kean excited at how his squad has taken shape.

The controversial midfielder El-Hadji Diouf (pictured right) was the only deadline day exit, joining Scottish champions Rangers on loan until the end of the season, while Jason Roberts became the latest to sign a new Rovers deal, committing himself for another season at least.

Nineteen-year-old striker Rochina (left) signed a deal until the summer of 2015 for in the region of £500,000 from Barcelona, after he turned down an offer from the Catalan club to stay at the Nou Camp for another two years.

Formica, 22, an attacking midfielder, is understood to have signed until 2014 from Argentinian outfit Newell’s Old Boys for approximately £3m, after a complicated battle against passport issues was won with just hours left of the window.

Kean said: “I think the window has been good, it has been positive. Not only have we got the new lads in but the players we have re-signed.

“I wanted to get most of the lads re-signed in the window just to make sure they are settled and stable and, after getting the new lads done, it has been an excellent window for us.

“We can really focus on our league form. We have got Tottenham and then Wigan so we are hopeful we can keep the momentum in the league going.”

A product of the Newell’s Old Boys academy, Formica was capped at youth level for Argentina and has been touted by Kean as ‘a young Gabriel Batistuta’. Rovers looked set to miss out on him after he passed a medical at Monaco, but an 11th hour bid to hijack the move saw him quickly jet in to England.

The club have been working hard behind the scenes ever since to solve several passport issues but landed their man with just hours of the window remaining.

Kean said: “Mauro is a fantastic talent, an attacking player who has been in great demand.

“He has great technical ability and is a typical Argentinian with a bit of fight and a bit of devilment in him.”

Rochina, came through the Barcelona youth ranks, and has been a regular member of their B team in the Spanish second division, scoring two goals in 13 appearances this season.

The deal is understood to include a clause that gives Barcelona first refusal on any future move from Rovers, after he turned down the chance to extend his stay at his boyhood club.

“Ruben is a genuine addition to our senior squad,” said Kean.

“A young player with great ability, who can play in a number of attacking positions.

“He joins our elite development group, alongside the likes of Phil Jones and Junior Hoilett and will compete for a place from the word go.

“The fact we are able to sign young players from the likes of Barcelona is further evidence of the owners’ intention to push the club forward.

“They told me they were keen to add to our youth development group and this is an exciting and significant signing for us.”

Jason Roberts has now joined Michel Salgado and Ryan Nelsen in signing new deals with Rovers, with Chris Samba, Mark Bunn and Paul Robinson expected to follow soon.

Rovers defender Grant Hanley will be called up into Scotland’s senior squad for the first time today.