Rovers are looking at a deal for free agent goalkeeper Nikita Haikin.

The 27-year-old is without a club after leaving Bodo/Glimt after the expiry of his contract at the end of 2022.

Haikin played 121 times across four seasons with the Norwegian side, and will be known well to Rovers’ director of football Gregg Broughton.

Born in Israel with Russian citizenship, Haikin is a UK national so wouldn’t require work permit.

He has represented Russia up to Under-21 level and previously had trials at Reading and Chelsea in 2013 before getting his break in the senior game in 2017 with Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv in the Israeli Premier League.

The bulk of his senior football has been played with Bodo/Glimt who he joined in 2019, helping them to the Eliteserien title in 2020 and 2021. He has played in Champions League qualifiers, the Europa League and the Europa Conference League during his time with Bodo/Glimt.

Haikin is also said to be on the radar of MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps, with Rovers' interest first reported by Norwegian outlet Nettavisen.

Rovers are currently well-stocked in the goalkeeping department, though the move could free up Aynsley Pears for more regular first-team football with a loan move for the remainder of the season.

The 24-year-old has played only 13 times for Rovers since his arrival for an undisclosed fee in the summer of 2020, but has impressed in the cup competitions this season.

Pears is also into the last 18 months of his four-year deal.

Joe Hilton has been Rovers’ third-choice goalkeeper this season, but the 23-year-old, as well as 21-year-old Jordan Eastham are both out of contract in the summer, and neither have made a first-team experience.

Rovers do have high hopes for teenage prospect Felix Goddard who signed his first professional deal in the summer and was enjoying a fine loan spell at Bamber Bridge, only for that to be cut short due to injury.

Thomas Kaminski has been Rovers’ undisputed No.1 since signing from KAA Gent in 2020 and has featured in all 27 league matches to date.

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