Rovers have made their move for Plymouth Argyle striker Niall Ennis who they are working to make their first signing of the summer.

The 24-year-old is available as a free agent and is understood to be one of the four players referenced by director of football Gregg Broughton that the club had held talks with.

Those discussions are understood to be well advanced, with the expectation that the striker, who scored 14 goals last season, becomes the club’s first signing of the summer.

Ennis is understood to be undergoing a medical following positive talks between the club and the player who was offered a new contract by the League One champions.

Rovers are in the market for three new attackers following the departures of Ben Brereton, Bradley Dack and loanee Sorba Thomas.

Ennis is known to new head of recruitment Sean Kimberley who had a spell with Argyle after ending his long-association with Aston Villa.

The forward, who added seven goals to his 14 assists, made the move to Home Park in January 2021 from Wolverhampton Wanderers where he came through the ranks.

He made just one substitute appearance for Wolves at senior level, spending time on loan at Shrewsbury Town, Doncaster Rovers and Burton Albion before joining Plymouth in January 2021 for an undisclosed fee.

The three-and-a-half year deal he signed when making that move is now at an end, and despite the attempts of Argyle to keep him, Ennis looks set to reject that offer and join Rovers. 

He is yet to have a taste of Championship football, with 28 goals and 16 assists in League One, but he has been a big part of Argyle’s success, though his 38 appearances were made up of 19 starts and 19 substitute appearances.

Rovers are looking to get the greater portion of their business done by the time the players return to pre-season training at the end of June. 

A significant portion of that business is expected to be in attack, with the move for Ennis set to be a positive step on both counts. 

Rovers haven’t signed a striker on a permanent contract since the July 2019 arrival of Sam Gallagher.

Other striking options at the club are Academy graduates Jack Vale and Harry Leonard, with George Hirst, who was the club’s first-choice striking option last summer, having returned to parent club Leicester City in January.

Hirst failed to find the back of the net in his 11 appearances for Rovers, with his loan terminated, which also ended the permanent agreement that was in the deal.