The agent of Slovenian international Jaka Bijol has suggested that Rovers are one of the clubs to have bid for the CSKA midfielder.

Reports in the Russian press say Rovers have lodged a bid for the 21-year-old, which is being considered, something his agent, Robert Chibezh, appears to have corroborated.

However, Bijol isn’t understood to be a target at his juncture, not least with a reported asking price of £2.5m.

Rovers have so far spent around £450,000 on bringing in goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski from AA Gent, and also had a bid accepted by Wigan Athletic’s administrators for central defender Cedric Kipre for just shy of £1m.

West Brom look set to land the 23-year-old having entered advanced talks with the Ivorian with an offer of wages far in excess of what Rovers would be able to match, although no deal has been agreed as yet as Kipre weighs up his future.

Rovers are also one of several clubs to have been linked with a move for Doncaster captain Ben Whiteman who is expected to lead out the League One side at Ewood Park in tomorrow’s Carabao Cup tie.

Doncaster are holding out for a ‘big bid’ having already turned down several seven-figure offers for their captain, and while Rovers have had a long-term interest in the 24-year-old, no bid has been lodged this summer.

Bijol, like Whiteman, still has another three years left to run on his contract, which will drive up any asking price.

While Rovers have funds to spend this season, the Lancashire Telegraph understands that won’t see them spend a seven-figure fee on any player this summer, as EFL clubs continue to battle with the financial climate created by the coronavirus pandemic.

Chizbeh told the Russian press: “There is indeed interest in Bijol from Blackburn, but we are also working in other areas and opportunities. We communicate with other clubs that also show their interest in the player.”

Bijol has been capped six times by Slovenia and has played 94 times in his career, including in both the Champions League and Europa League, and has featured in three of CKSA's opening six matches of this campaign.

Rovers have made strides to boost their recruitment in the overseas market, investing heavily in their scouring of several leagues across Europe.

Although Lewis Holtby arrived last year as a free agent after leaving Hamburg, Kaminski represents the first arrival from overseas of Mowbray’s tenure.

Domestic targets are being concentrated on for the central defensive position, but European players are thought to being looked at as Rovers look to strengthen in central midfield given Stewart Downing isn’t expected to sign a new contract and return to the club.

“It doesn’t feel anything new to me because I’ve been looking at overseas players for what feels like over a year now,” Mowbray said when asked about the possibility of Kaminski’s signing being a watershed moment.

“I think we are in the market, we know a lot about players abroad and everything has to line up for you to sign them.

“You have to have the finance, fulfil their expectations of them coming to England and what their salary expectations will be, the club you’re buying from seem to think when an English club comes in they’re all Manchester United and you have hundreds of  millions of pounds to spend.

“We’re in the market, we have lists of players who are free transfers, a list of players who might come on loan, ones who might cost £1m, lists of players who might cost up to £5m, we have lots of players at different levels.

“Thomas was on one of those lists and we’ve watched him quite closely, asked lots of questions and he’s here and we hope he fits in to the culture of our club and how we want to play and that he enjoys his experience here.”