Rovers’ hopes of adding to their squad on deadline ended when negotiations for a loan deal with Newcastle United winger Christian Atsu broke down.

Tony Mowbray had been keen to add to his squad before the 11pm cut-off point and made a bid to land the 28-year-old wide man on loan for the rest of the season.

The sticking point was the winger’s £30,000 a week wages that the Magpies were thought to want covering in full, which Rovers were unable to meet.

With Newcastle in the midst of an injury crisis, Atsu, who has played 22 times this season, opted to stay and fight for his place on Tynesode for the remainder of the season.

Nottingham Forest and Fulham had been linked with Atsu, while reports in the north east suggested Celtic made a last minute bid to try and snare the Ghanian on loan.  

Rovers had been keen to add a winger to their ranks all month, having previously identified Polish international Kamil Jozwiak and Portsmouth’s Ronan Curtis as targets.

But valuations of their respective parent clubs proved out of Rovers’ reach, though Mowbray has suggested could revisit those deals in the summer.

A goalkeeper was also on Rovers’ wishlist, with the club keen on Northampton’s David Cornell identified as a target, but with the 28-year-old out of contract in the summer, Rovers could make their move when he becomes a free agent.

A deal had also been struck with Chelsea for 19-year-old Tariq Lamptey, but the England youth international then rejected a deal at Stamford Bridge and was last night in the process of agreeing a permanent deal with Premier League side Brighton.

Offers for midfielder Richie Smallwood and Dominic Samuel failed to materialise on deadline, with Samuel travelling as part of the 20-man squad to Middlesbrough.

The only confirmed deal saw goalkeeper Andrew Fisher join League One side MK Dons on loan until the end of the season.

Fisher spent the first half of the campaign with League Two side Northampton Town but made just three Leasing.com Trophy appearances for the Cobblers.

Fisher has joined Russell Martin’s side who sit in the League One relegation places on goal difference and will compete with Lee Nicholls for the No.1 spot at Stadium:MK.