Rovers looking for a fourth Iberian (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Rovers looking for a fourth Iberian

7:53am Tuesday 17th July 2012 in Sport By Andy Cryer , Blackburn Rovers reporter

BLACKBURN Rovers are on the trail of their fourth Portuguese player of the summer – with Porto midfielder Paulo Jorge having started a trial yesterday.

The 18-year-old, who played for Porto under 19s last season, has come through the youth ranks at his club and the Portuguese national team and will be given a chance to shine by Blackburn over the coming days.

Jorge, whose full name is Paulo Jorge Gomes Pereira, is expected to feature in a behind closed doors friendly against Macclesfield tomorrow, where the majority of Steve Kean’s current squad will be given a run out.

Jorge is understood to prefer playing in deep central midfield role and has been described by Portuguese sources as a tough-tackling midfielder.

Rovers have already signed two Portuguese players this summer in striker Nuno Gomes from Braga and winger Fabio Nunes from Portimonese, while they continue to chase Sporting Lisbon midfielder Adrien Silva.

Silva, 23, is under contract at Sporting and is continuing negotiations with them this week, with Rovers hopeful he will tell his employers he wants a switch to Ewood Park.

Rovers would only have to pay minimal compensation for Jorge, should he impress at Brockhall this week, as they continue their attempts to build a youthful squad, with some experience among it.

Jorge is relatively unknown away from his home club but has international pedigree at youth level, having most recently played for Portugal under 19s.

Jorge will be joined on trial by Malaysian defender Titus James Palani later this week as he looks to become the first from his country to make it in English football.

Rovers pre-season preparations will continue back in England after returning from an intense summer camp in Austria over the weekend.

Rovers fans will get their first glimpse of the club’s new signings at Saturday’s friendly double header against Fleetwood and Accrington Stanley at the Crown Ground on Saturday.

Danny Murphy, Leon Best, Nunes and Gomes should all feature, as should trialists Jorge and Palani.

Rovers remain on the look-out for a versatile defender to add to their squad before the start of the new season, while they will look elsewhere for a central midfielder if their attempts to land Silva prove unsuccessful.