Rovers are exploring the option of signings free agents from Europe – but that won’t be affected by tonight’s 11pm deadline.

The club have until tonight if they are to sign any players from Europe on permanent deals, although Tony Mowbray has poured cold water on the prospect of any more cash signings this window for some time.

The deadline for EFL clubs to sign contracted players, or loanees, is 5pm on Friday, October 16, but that doesn’t affect any free agents, an avenue Rovers explored last year when bringing in Lewis Holtby following his departure from Hamburg.

The Lancashire Telegraph understands that Rovers have looked to central Europe, and Scandinavia, for possible left back options, and having eyed goalkeepers last summer, and this, that route could also be utilised to find a back-up option for Thomas Kaminski which would allow Andrew Fisher to go out on loan.

Norwegian Haitam Aleesami, a free agent since leaving French side Amiens following their relegation from Ligue 1, is reportedly a target, according to reports in Norway.

Norwegian outlet nettavisen.no say Rovers are keen to make a move for the 29-year-old, though neither the player, or his agent, have commented on the reports, though there is no suggesiton that a deal is close, or indeed any terms being discussed at this stage.

Aleesami, despite being without a club, is in the Norway squad ahead of their Serbia (October 8), Romania (October 11) and Northern Ireland (October 14) as he looks to build on his 30 caps.

Mowbray said European targets Rovers had scouted were still available, should the financials be agreed, with the boss hoping deals will drop for the club who have found it difficult to get them over the line this summer.  

“Dealing with transfers and players is never easy,” Mowbray said.

“We’re trying hard to add to what we’ve got and to create competition.

“Let’s see if anything drops in both, over the next few days before the international window closes and over the next fortnight before the domestic window shuts.”

After the window shuts tonight at 11pm, Premier League clubs will only be able to turn to EFL clubs for signings, with the final deadline coming some 11 days later.

Rovers are keen to keep their squad together, and add rather than lose any players, with no bids for any of their first-team players as yet.

Indeed, bar a couple of their Academy prospects on loan, and Fleetwood being able to come up with an offer for Charlie Mulgrew that Rovers deem acceptable, the likelihood of any departures from Ewood seems unlikely as things stand.

Several Championship teams have opted to sell some of their senior players to fund incomings in a difficult financial climate, but that’s not something Mowbray sees for his side in this window.

“We’re in a similar situation to other clubs in that we don’t have a lot of money, and yet some other clubs have sold some players in order to spend a few million on improving their squad,” the manager added.

“We haven’t sold any of our assets which is good.

“I’m delighted that nobody’s come knocking for some of our top players because we’re trying to build a team and we don’t want to lose any of them.”