ROVERS transfer target Cedric Kipre has completed his expected move to West Brom.

Tony Mowbray had identified the Wigan Athletic centre half to bolster his defence and Rovers are understood to have agreed a fee of £900,000 with Wigan Athletic's administrators.

But the 23-year-old Frenchman opted to join the Premier League new boys - and said it was a dream move to join the Baggies.

Slaven Bilić turned his attentions to Kipre after former Rovers stopper Shane Duffy - who scored in the Republic of Ireland's 1-1 draw in Bulgaria on Thursday night - opted to join Celtic on a season-long loan from Brighton.

It meant Rovers were made to wait as the Frenchman favoured a move to newly-promoted West Brom, but was caught in a chain until Duffy's future was finalised.

As well as Kipre's desire to play in the Premier League this season, personal terms had also proved a sticking point for Rovers following discussions with the player's representatives.

So the defender was delighted to finally get the deal done after signing for the Hawthorns club on a four-year deal.

“I heard of the interest a month ago and the head of recruitment spoke to me and I had to be patient with it but finally I’m here - I am happy,” he told the club website.

“It’s a big club and the chance to play in the Premier League was what attracted me.

"My goal was to play in this division by the age of 25 and today I’m 23 so I’m grateful for the chance.

He added: “I’m expecting to learn a lot from Slaven because he played in the same position and he can teach me areas to progress.”

Kipre is not the only defender on Mowbray's wanted list and he will turn his attention to other targets as he continues to work round the clock with his recruitment department to strengthen the squad.

The Rovers boss knows just how difficult to get deals over the line but is hoping to bring in new players before the start of the season.

“Unless you are a club where money is no problem and you just get the job done, every pound we spend is important to us," he said.

“We are moving on with a few options and hopefully for our supporters the news will be good over the next week or two and the team will be strengthened."

Rovers plan to bring in two new central defenders this summer, and that is likely to see the departures of Derrick Williams and Charlie Mulgrew.

Williams has Championship interest in the form of Swansea City, and Rovers would recoup a fee for the 27-year-old in the final year of his Ewood Park deal.