Rovers are in a good place when it comes to their transfer business having hit their self-imposed three signing target before the end of June.

Yet there is still work to do, with at least three more incomings targeted before the end of the window.

Jon Dahl Tomasson reiterated that stance following the opening pre-season friendly against Accrington Stanley, which would put Rovers in line with the number of signings initially outlined by director of football Gregg Broughton.

Rovers know all too well that the big piece of the jigsaw left to be filled is that of a striker. However, that comes at a time when the club don't have the ability to spend money on fees until any potential sales are made. 

 

WHAT HAVE ROVERS DONE SO FAR?

First through the door, only a few weeks after the end of the season, was Niall Ennis who arrived on a free transfer from Plymouth Argyle.

The club moved quickly to bring in the 24-year-old who will fill one of the attacking voids left by the departures of Ben Brereton and Bradley Dack as well as loanee Sorba Thomas.

Next up was Sondre Tronstad, the 27-year-old Norwegian arriving also on a free transfer, again on a long-term contract having left Vitesse Arnhem.

The expectation is that he will be the replacement for Tyler Morton who played 40 times during his season-long stay before returning to parent club Liverpool.

The other piece of business done so far is that of Arnor Sigurdsson, the 24-year-old Iceland international arriving as he took advantage of a FIFA regulation to make the move from CSKA Moscow.

Sigurdsson, who offers flexibility across the forward line, arrived on a one-year deal.

However, his deal with the Russian club is due to expire in May 2024, and it is understood that Rovers are in a position to make it a longer-term agreement should the initial move go as expected.

 

WHAT IS LEFT TO DO?

Rovers have three, potentially four, more signings to make – should there be no outgoings.

The one that is most progressed is that of Sunderland defender Danny Batth.

Rovers have identified the 32-year-old as the experienced centre half that they see as pivotal to their recruitment and squad make-up following the departure of Daniel Ayala.

The club feel the need to add experience to a squad which has only one player (Thomas Kaminski) over the age of 28.

Batth played 42 times in 2022/23, winning Sunderland’s player of the year prize in the process, and has managed 464 career appearances to Ayala’s 332 despite their debuts coming within a month of each other.

The signing of Batth, which Rovers are looking to finalise as talks over personal terms go on, would be on a free transfer and not require a fee to be paid, despite him still having a year left to run on his current contract.

The club will also look to add a No.10 to their squad following the departure of Dack.

The current expectation is that will come via the loan market, and from a Premier League club.

Such deals are notoriously later in the window given Premier League clubs are just making their return to pre-season, and the likelihood of needing players to fulfil their close season fixtures.

Rovers too also expected their move for another striker to come later in the window, albeit in time for the new season.

The current feeling is that will also be a loan move, though that could change should there be an outgoing.

It is the most likely position, of the remaining business, to be another overseas signing - but a Premier League loan would be more expected.

Options have been drawn up, but Rovers are allowing themselves time just in case there is an outgoing which could fund a permanent addition. 

Rovers know they will need to get that right having missed out on the play-offs because of goal difference, and also the deal for George Hirst last summer having not worked out.

The only other potential signing would be that of a right winger, and take the remaining business from three to four, as the squad currently stands.

That decision looks set to come down to whether Dilan Markanday can force his way into Tomasson’s first-team plans for the upcoming season, or whether another loan move, having finished the last campaign at Aberdeen, is needed.

 

WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL OUTGOINGS?

Rovers have had interest this summer in their goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski, which has come from Premier League new boys Luton Town.

Their offers are yet to top £1m, and would need reach between £3m and £4m were Rovers to contemplate the sale of the 30-year-old who has two years left to run on his contract.

While Kaminski spent the final weeks of last season out of the side, it is expected that he will start the upcoming season as No.1, as things stand, though Tomasson has welcomed the competition between the Belgian and Aynsley Pears, who signed a four-year deal in the summer.

Rovers know the importance of the goalkeeping position and the need to replace Kaminski with a suitable alternative should Luton, or anyone else, hit their valuation.

Millwall have made one bid for Rovers captain Lewis Travis this summer, one that was quickly rebuffed, with the Lions yet to return, and appearing unlikely to at this stage.

The arrival of a fifth central defender would free up Sam Barnes, who missed the entirety of the 2022/23 season and much of the season prior to that, through injury, to go and secure first-team football out on loan.

Tomasson has already confirmed that left back Tayo Edun’s time at the club is coming to an end, with Rovers waiting on suitable offers for the 25-year-old who has a year left to run on his deal.

Markanday has had a tough 18 months to start his Rovers career, with injury on his debut, only one Championship appearance last season and then a loan spell that failed to provide the first-team football Rovers had craved.

Should that not be forthcoming again, a loan may be seen the as the best course for his development.

The signing of a striker will also likely see the green light given to Jack Vale to move out on loan, with League One sides looking in taking him for the 2023/24 season.

 

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

There has been great speculation around the future of Adam Wharton, but tied down to a long-term contract and with no desire to push for a move, Rovers expect to keep hold of him this summer and for the teenage starlet to play a big part in the upcoming season.

Meanwhile, despite the expected departure of Edun, Rovers are relaxed about the left back position.

Harry Pickering is first choice, and while Callum Brittain can cover, the progress of Jake Batty will see him remain around the senior squad having impressed in pre-season.

The teenager, who made his senior debut against Hartlepool United last season, had a nervy start to the opening friendly against Accrington Stanley but grew into the game and has caught the eye in the early weeks of pre-season.

One player to impress at the Wham Stadium was Ash Phillips.

The central defender has two years left to run on the deal he signed last summer, the longest that could be agreed at the time.

Now 18, Rovers can agree a longer-term contract with the England youth international, however, no progress has yet been made on that.

With the security of compensation for a player of such a young age, Rovers aren’t in the same thought process as they might be for another member of the squad who was coming into their final two years in terms of their availability.

The expectation is that Phillips will therefore remain at the club for at least another year, with talks over the potential of a new deal to be ongoing in that time, and re-assessed next summer if not.