ROVERS could offer ex-Arsenal youngster Robbie Burton a route out of Croatia.

The 21-year-old Dinamo Zagreb midfielder is being linked with a move to Ewood Park as he looks to kickstart his career.

According to reports in Croatia, Swansea are also interested in the Wales youth international who came through the ranks with the Gunners before making the unlikely career move to Zagreb in February 2020 for a deal worth around £800,000, signing a five-year contract.

He has played 25 times for the record 22-time title winners but is free to seek regular football and despite Dinamo’s preference for him to stay in Croatia, the Kent-born player is said to be pushing for a return to England.

Burton captained Arsenal’s U23s against Rovers in both Premier League 2 matches in 2018/19 and Tony Mowbray is on the hunt for midfield reinforcements with Adam Reach, a free agent after leaving Sheffield Wednesday, understood to be one target.

Fulham’s Stefan Johansen has also been linked, as he was in January, having finished last season on loan at Queens Park Rangers.

Burton would be a far more youthful option and would be tasting Championship football for the first time.

Mowbray allowed three senior midfielders – Stewart Downing, Lewis Holtby and Corry Evans – to leave the club at the end of their deals with only Bradley Johnson retained on a fresh 12-month contract to take him into a third season at Ewood.

Tom Trybull also returned to Norwich at the end of his loan spell and faces an uncertain future at Carrow Road.