Tony Mowbray says Rovers will take a long-term, as well as short-term, view heading into the final days of the transfer window.

Rovers have been given encouragement in their pursuit of Crewe Alexandra left back Harry Pickering who the club see as an ideal player to be their long-term option in that position.

Their pursuit could well go down to the wire, while Rovers are also looking at the possibility of using their one remaining loan spot to help see them through the second half of the season.

Equally, Mowbray hasn’t ruled out players leaving on either on loan or on a permanent basis as he manages his budget, and options, ahead of Monday’s 11pm deadline.

"As I've said with every transfer window, you have to try and come out of it stronger,” Mowbray said.

“That's what we're trying to do. We're looking at long-termism as well as short-termism so let's see what the next few days brings."

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Rovers fans should be braced for another busy end to the window, with the club set for dealings both in and out of Ewood Park before the 11pm deadline on Monday.

A frantic deadline day in October saw four players arrive, and two leave, while Jarrad Branthwaite has already arrived this month on loan from Everton.

There is the prospect of another loan signing, as well as a permanent addition, as Mowbray weighs up having the options available for the second half of the season to mount a concerted push for the top six, with building for the future with so many players out of contract this summer.

Rovers weren’t initially expected to be busy this month, but injuries to three senior central defenders in the final weeks of 2020 saw owners Venky’s make funds available to add in that position.

However, Rovers see 22-year-old Pickering, a rising star in the EFL, as attainable and with Barry Douglas only on loan, and Amari’i Bell out of contract in the summer, a vacancy in that position will open up.

Rovers have this month allowed Joe Hilton, Hayden Carter and Harry Chapman to leave on loan and there is the prospect of more fringe players making moves away from Ewood Park, both on loan, or a permanent basis, with Joe Grayson and Jack Vale among the youngsters attracting interest.

"I think there will be ins and outs. I hope there is a bit of business to be done but I think we will balance both of that really,” Mowbray said.

"I don't think we're sitting here thinking we're going to spend lots of money in the next few days but I think there is some potential of ins, potential of outs. Whether they come together, let's wait and see.

“For whatever reason, our transfer business appears to be made public pretty quickly and so again, from my perspective I don't think I'm going to sit here and talk about any specifics.

"We would hope to do some business but as I say, let's see what Monday night brings.”

A six-figure fee, and negotiated add-ons, would be required to prise Pickering away from Gresty Road, a move which would be a huge coup for Rovers with the left back a player with Premier League potential.

He would come as a permanent signing, Mowbray’s preference in any window, not least with Branthwaite, Douglas, Tom Trybull and Harvey Elliott as  loan players already on the books.

Rovers finished last season with just two loan players, and the 2018/19 campaign with just Harrison Reed, but the need for short-term signings has been more evident this season, not least with finances tight.

“Ultimately, through every transfer window, you're trying to improve your squad,” Mowbray explained.

"I try to look forward to next year, we are sitting here currently with four loans.

“I've talked to you about loans in the past, you don't want five loans, six loans, you can only put five on your teamsheet and you don’t want five players in your team who then disappear at the end of the season.  

“You have to try and secure players that are going to move your club forward, that are your signings and you can't just rely on a short-termism of constantly bringing loans in because they go back to their parent clubs fitter, stronger, hopefully better players and they don’t help us moving forward.

"But in the short-term when that needs to be done we have to do that.”