Rovers’ hopes of securing the return of Jan Paul van Hecke are set to be dashed.

The club’s player of the season for 2021/22 was the supporters’ first-choice option to boost Rovers’ central defensive ranks.

However, the Dutchman is understood to be close to signing a new deal with parent club Brighton & Hove Albion and signing for another Championship side on a season-long loan deal.

His future had been unclear this summer, with his current contract due to expire in the summer of 2023, and doesn’t include an option.

That made it unlikely that Brighton would loan out van Hecke without securing him to another contract.

That is the scenario that now looks likely, but it appears it will be Championship new boys Sunderland who secure the 22-year-old on loan.

van Hecke played a pivotal role for Rovers last season, impressing enough in his 32 appearances to be named as the club’s player of the season.

He featured for Brighton in pre-season and also made the bench for their opening two Premier League fixtures.

But as the window comes to a close, and Brighton feeling fully staffed in their defensive ranks, van Hecke is set to get his move away.

That is expected to be confirmed once he signs a new deal. The three-year contract he agreed when joining from NAC Breda in 2020 expires next summer, and despite having since been loaned to Heerenveen and Rovers, Brighton see him as a potential long-term option in their side.

It leaves Rovers still searching for central defensive recruits.

There is an expectation within the club that Liverpool will release Sepp van den Berg on loan for the season and become the second Reds youngster to make the move to Ewood Park this summer.

The hope is that that deal can be tied up ahead of the visit of Stoke City this weekend.

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