Rovers would need to break their loan payments stance if they are to land Liverpool defender Ben Davies.

The club have been linked with a move for the left-sided defender who is free to leave Anfield on a short-term deal.

Rovers are searching for central defensive recruits after the departure of captain Darragh Lenihan on a free transfer, while player of the year Jan Paul van Hecke returned to parent club Brighton.

Daniel Ayala, who is of interest to Spanish side Granada, and Scott Wharton are Rovers’ two senior central defensive options, while Hayden Carter is keen to impress Jon Dahl Tomasson in pre-season after a productive loan spell in the second half of last season at Portsmouth.

But Rovers are keen to add in the centre of defence, having missed out on Malmo defender Anel Ahmedhodžić to Sheffield United, and are said to be looking to break their duck with a move for Davies.

Rovers are open to loan deals, but haven’t previously been willing to pay loan fees on top of wage contributions.

They have had recent success in the loan market with defenders, with Jan Paul van Hecke winning the club's player of the year prize last season.

Tosin Adarabioyo, Taylor Harwood and Jarrad Branthwaite were also loaned in, with Daniel Ayala the only permanent recruit in central defence since promotion from League One.

Were Rovers to land Davies, then it would likely need that stance to change, given Liverpool pocketed around £1m for taking the left-sided defender on loan last season.

That was a figure more than what they paid up-front to land the defender from Preston North End in January 2021.

However, there appears to be a willingness on the Reds’ side to get a deal done early, with Davies having not travelled with Jurgen Klopp’s squad to Thailand.

The two clubs built up a close relationship following friendlies with each other in 2018 and 2020, while Rovers also loaned Harvey Elliott in 2020/21 and Leighton Clarkson last season, without the top-up payments being made.

Elliott spent a hugely successful season at Ewood Park, though midfielder Clarkson endured a more frustrating spell, managing only nine appearances before it was agreed that he would return to Anfield.

Clarkson became Rovers’ first signing of last summer, but not until after the new season had started.

Liverpool have been known to include penalty clauses in loan deals should their player not feature for an agreed number of minutes.

That is something else that Rovers have been reluctant to agree to previously, however, that did change for the agreement with Leeds United over Ian Poveda. That saw Rovers agree to take Poveda for the season, without a break clause in January, and for wage contributions to be based around minutes played.

That worked against Rovers when Poveda damaged his ankle ligaments in November and didn’t return to action until April.

Davies is best known for his time with Preston North End where he made 145 appearances between 2013 and 2021, in which time he had a host of loan spells away.

When entering the final six months of his Deepdale contract in January 2021, he made a shock £2m move to Liverpool on transfer deadline day, but hasn’t played a first-team game for the Reds.

Last season he was loaned to Sheffield United where injury restricted him to only 23 appearances, and one goal, a 95th minute in the Blades’ 1-0 win over Rovers in March.

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