Rovers are in the market for two central defenders – but look set to face a wait for Sepp van den Berg.

As reported last week, Rovers have a serious interest in taking the Liverpool defender on a season-long loan.

The 20-year-old is a player that head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson is aware of, having tracked his progress playing for Netherlands Under-21s.

Van den Berg has Championship experience after 18 months on loan with Preston North End and is a player that Rovers feel can add flexibility to their backline.

Yet their pursuit of van den Berg is being held up by injuries in the Liverpool defensive ranks, with Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip both ruled out, and Nat Phillips handed a rare start against Crystal Palace due to concerns over the match fitness of Joe Gomez.

It means that van den Berg has been used as cover on the bench in the Reds’ opening two Premier League games, with Rovers’ cause not helped by the fact top-flight clubs can field nine substitutes in their matchday squad.

Rovers are short of defensive options, with Scott Wharton adding to the injury list ahead of the weekend’s win over West Bromwich Albion.

With Wharton, whose injury ended a run of 32 consecutive Championship appearances, set to miss at least two more matches, 17-year-old Ash Phillips looks set to get his chance.

Hayden Carter is back in light training, but still not ready to play after three weeks out with a hamstring issue, while Sam Barnes is set to undergo surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament.

It leaves Daniel Ayala as Rovers’ only senior central defensive option, with the Spaniard having had fitness issues of his own in his opening two seasons at the club.

The 31-year-old has proven his quality when available, and Rovers have to ensure his run in the side continues given their current predicament.

Tomasson stated his job was to ‘make the players better’ and the club’s to ‘provide’ the players, but knows the need to strengthen is pressing.

And the club’s current plan is to recruit two new defenders.

Ayala is the only permanent central defensive addition to the squad since 2018, with Rovers relying heavily on the loan market and homegrown talent.

While van den Berg would provide an option for a season, Rovers will look at longer-term options, with Ayala’s deal up next summer.

Also factored into the thinking is the future of top prospect Phillips.

The 17-year-old has now made his full debut and league debut within the space of a week and is expected to start for the third time in a week at Reading tonight.

In the same way that Rovers have loaned for a season Tyler Morton so to not block the long-term prospects of their own midfield talentz, such as Adam Wharton and Jake Garrett, the development of Phillips could well come into the central defensive thinking.

Phillips is yet to sign a professional contract, with Rovers doing everything they can to secure his long-term future.

While there would be a lure of Premier League clubs, Rovers know that a spot around the first-team and a route to regular football is their main strength around the negotiating table.

The club will be aware of not blocking the development of Phillips should they bring in new defenders, but equally, the uncertainty over his future also has to be factored in.

Rovers have so far been frustrated in their efforts to add in defence, with the van den Berg hold-up following the failed pursuit of Anel Ahmedhodžić and Ben Davies.

Bosnian defender Ahmedhodžić, who worked with Tomasson at Malmo, opted for a move to Sheffield United, despite Rovers’ attempts with bids of over £3.5m tabled.

Davies meanwhile joined Rangers on a permanent deal, though Rovers are thought to have only looked at a loan deal, albeit an expensive one, which was reported to have cost them a wage contribution similar to the contract offered to Darragh Lenihan in the summer.

With two weeks of the window to add, Rovers’ central defensive ranks are yet to be strengthened, though they have brought in Callum Brittain to become their first-choice right back.

Rovers were reported as being one of the clubs interested in Norwegian central defender Marius Lode, the 29-year-old having mutually terminated his contract at Schalke after only six months, and six appearances.

He will be known to Rovers’ director of football Gregg Broughton following their respective spells at Bodo/Glimt, but those reports are thought to be wide of the mark, not least given the difficulties over a work permit.

That is an issue Rovers have faced in their quest to use contacts and knowledge of the overseas market thus far.

Veljko Birmančević and Jo Inge Berget are two players Rovers are thought to have considered, having worked with Tomasson at Malmo, but Serie A interest and injury have respectively had seen interest dwindle.

Another attacker is thought to be on the wishlist, but it is unclear at this stage as to whether that is a contingency plan in case of the departure of Ben Brereton, or regardless of what happens with the future of the Chile international.

That could see Rovers dip into the European market for the first time in this window.

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