There should be little surprise to see Rovers and Sunderland credited with interest in the same players.

It comes after Stuart Harvey opted to join the League One club as their head of recruitment, leaving a similar post he had been in at Ewood Park for four years, last month.

Tony Mowbray has stressed the work behind the scenes continues, using the models put in place by Harvey who was key to the restricting of the recruitment department at Rovers, moving to a more data-driven system.

Harvey worked closely with manager Mowbray who is looking to reshape his squad ahead of next season in what is his fifth summer in charge.

Transfer links have been few and far between for Rovers, unsurprising given the financial implications of this summer, and still needing to file their accounts for the year to June 2020 so to be free of any possible transfer embargo.

They have however, along with Sunderland, been credited with interest in Aberdeen’s 19-year-old midfielder Ethan Ross. That comes after he opted to turn down the offer of a new contract, and would be free to leave for a nominal fee this summer, should a compromise not be reached.

Rovers will be on the look-out for talent to add to their Under-23s ranks following the departure of Brad Lyons, a player Harvey scouted while playing for Coleraine, as well as Tom White and Stefan Mols.

Ross spent the first half last season on loan in the Scottish Championship with Raith Rovers, before returning to Pittodrie where he was a regular in the cup competitions, but restricted to just five minutes of Premiership action.

Capped up to Scotland Under-19s level, he’s also spent time on loan with Dunfermline.

Links to Ross come a day after Terell Thomas was said to be interesting Rovers and Sunderland, as well as Barnsley, with the 25-year-old set to become a free agent after running down his contract at AFC Wimbledon.