Rovers have identified Liam Lindsay as a possible solution to their central defensive options with the 24-year-old frozen out at Stoke City.

Tony Mowbray had looked at Lindsay, as well as Ethan Pinnock, last summer after their partnership played a key role in Barnsley’s promotion to the Championship.

Pinnock was snapped up by Brentford, while Stoke City won the race for Lindsay’s signature on a deal worth around £2m.

However, he made just 17 Championship starts for the Potters, and failed to appear in any of their final 16 matches, and didn’t even make the matchday squad in 11.

Rovers need to strengthen in central defence after Tosin Adarabioyo returned to parent club Manchester City at the end of a productive loan spell.

Stoke are understood to be willing to listen to offers for Lindsay, but could also consider a loan deal, given their raft of options in central defence.

Boss Michael O’Neill this week landed James Chester on a free transfer, with Danny Batth, Ryan Shawcross, Nathan Collins and Bruno Martins Indi all ahead of Lindsay in the pecking order.

Just eight of Lindsay’s 20 Potters appearances came after former Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill replaced Nathan Jones in the bet365 Stadium hotseat, the 4-0 defeat at Derby County on January 31 proving to be his final outing of the season.

The left-footed central defender has two more years left on his deal at Stoke after his switch from Barnsley where he made 90 appearances in two seasons at Oakwell, and they are likely to want to at least recoup somewhere close to the money shelled out last summer.

Lindsay also clocked up 95 appearances in Scottish football, having come through the ranks at Partick Thistle who also got a slice of the transfer fee that took him from Barnsley to Stoke.

Harry Souttar is another of Stoke’s central defenders who could be available, although most likely on loan.

The Australian youth international has impressed during his loan spells at Fleetwood Town across the last 18 months, helping them reach the League One play-off semi-finals last term.

The defender has also spent time on loan at Ross County since making his move to Stoke in the summer of 2017.

While Joey Barton and the Cod Army would like Souttar back on loan, a third season in League One is unlikely to be seen as beneficial for the 21-year-old.

However, as things stand, there has been no enquiry from Rovers about his availability.