Rovers remain interested in Crewe Alexandra left back Harry Pickering.

There has been no follow-up bid from Rovers since tabling one earlier this month, but their interest has never gone away. And the Lancashire Telegraph understands there is growing belief that a deal could get done before the 11pm cut-off point.

Pickering is arguably the most highly-rated left back plying his trade outside of the Championship, and with Rovers facing the prospect of being without any left-sided defenders on their books come the summer, the 22-year-old is high on their priority list.

It was felt that they could park their interest and re-visit it in the summer, but the club have received encouragement that a deal could get done this month.

Any deal to prise Pickering out of the Gresty Road club would be structured, and include a sell-on clause which would all need to be agreed, but would be for an initial six-figure fee owing to a clause in the youngster’s contract.

It was the additional clauses that looked set to prize Rovers out of a move, but the club have continued discussions over the possibility of a deal.

Rovers were the first side to bid for Pickering in the window, and while there has been fleeting interest from Sheffield Wednesday, that isn’t thought to have got off the ground.

That has left Rovers in the strongest position currently to land the left back on a permanent deal.

Any deal for Pickering would be seen as a long-term investment, the club seeing plenty of potential in the left back who is already closing in on 150 appearances for the Railwaymen.

The budget for this season was spent in the previous window, however owners Venky’s sanctioned extra funds to bring in defensive cover with Daniel Ayala, Scott Wharton and Derrick Williams all out injured.

They moved to bring in Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton on loan for the remainder of the season, and there remains the prospect of another loan signing in that area before the window closes.

The club are wary of leaving themselves sort of defensive options as has happened already this season, when Bradley Johnson was forced to fill in at centre back prior to Branthwaite’s arrival, and in previous seasons when Ryan Nyambe was forced to slot in at centre half, while Tyler Magloire made his debut in March 2019.