Blackburn Rovers are hopeful of adding Japanese attacker Ryoya Morishita to their forward line.
The Lancashire Telegraph understands, as per reports over the weekend, that a move for the 28-year-old is advanced. Rovers have been looking to add more goals to their attacking line for a number of weeks.
Morishita fits the bill, albeit with the usual caveats of doing so outside of English football. The attacker netted 14 goals and registered six assists for Legia Warsaw last season.
The Polish club, who have already rebuffed Rovers interest in centre-back Steve Kapuadi earlier this window, have accepted Blackburn's bid. The player is in the process of travelling to England and there is confidence he will complete the move in advance of Saturday's home game against Norwich City.
READ MORE: 'Let everyone down' - Blackburn Rovers boss' strong view on Lewis Travis exit
Moritisha is able to be registered as he qualifies for a GBE work permit. As explained by the excellent GBE Expert Hub, he is eligible due to Legia Warsaw's run to the quarter finals of the UEFA Conference League last season.
Though the Polish top flight is a band five league, UEFA's third-tier competition is deemed as a 'band two' competition. Therefore, Moritisha qualifies on that basis alone, as he played more than 90% of their minutes in that run.
On top of that, his competitive appearance for Japan in June qualifies him as well. As they are a top 20 nation, players only need to have played once in two years for their country to earn seven of the 15 points required.
In terms of outgoings, it could be one in and two out over the next few days. Lewis Travis' move to Derby County is close to completion, as is John Buckley's surprise switch to Saudi Arabia side Al Kholood.
Travis passed his medical at Pride Park over the weekend and will be a Rams player shortly. Buckley is overseas putting the final touches to his switch too.
It is a big switch for the 25-year-old, who has spent the entirety of his senior career in the North of England. He will team up with Des Buckingham, who was recently appointed as their new boss.
The fee for Buckley is believed to be in the region of £1million, which represents decent business for a player who Rovers were happy to part with. For the player, it presents a new challenge and an opportunity for regular football, which was needed at this stage of his career.
Rovers are not finished in the transfer market even when they add Morishita. Ismael suggested that he would like another midfielder with Moussa Baradji signing on Friday to replace one of Travis/Buckley.
In addition, it's understood a late foray for a striker has not been ruled out. That is not a certainty, though, and would certainly be icing on the cake for Ismael if the right player became available and finances allowed.
Baradji took Rovers' number of summer recruits up to seven, whilst Morishita would make that eight. If another midfielder and forward arrived, Rovers would surpass the nine new faces that signed in last summer's window.
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