Rovers will explore the free transfer market this summer – but will be wary of any prospective wage demands.

Tony Mowbray and the Rovers hierarchy are currently in India meeting with owners Venky’s to discuss next season’s budget.

Rovers will need to recruit at least five players this season to supplement the squad which finished 15th in the Championship.

Mowbray is keen to add more Championship experience to his squad, with a new goalkeeper on the wishlist. That could come in the form of a free agent, with Frank Fielding, a target last summer and previously on the club’s books, leaving Bristol City at the end of his contract next month.

Derby ‘keeper Scott Carson is another player to have been mentioned as a possible addition, however the 33-year-old, who is out of favour with the Rams, still has 12 months left on his current deal.

With Mowbray needing to keep tight grip on the club’s wage bill that could rule out a number of possible free agents coming to Ewood Park this summer.

Charlton defender Patrick Bauer remains a possible option as he looks set to leave the Addicks next month.

The German was a target for Rovers last summer, with Charlton rejecting their advances, but Bauer is expected to leave The Valley should they lose this weekend’s play-off final to Sunderland.

However, with no transfer fee attached to any move, players like Bauer would command higher wages which could price them out of an Ewood move. 

With many Championship clubs having to cut their cloth this summer, a number of high profile players are without a club, but Mowbray admits their wage demands would likely rule Rovers out.

“Some of them will cost money, others will be free transfers, and then given a slightly higher wage,” the boss said.

“These are all things you need to consider and manage with how much money you have to spend.

“I would suggest that these players on huge salaries are probably going to be out of the picture because we won’t be able to match those salaries, unless they want to come to Blackburn Rovers and take our salary level and help us and think they can play and enjoy football and try and be at the top end of the table.”

Rovers are still waiting on responses to contract offers made to Jack Rodwell and Craig Conway.

The pair, whose deals expire next month, were both given time to assess their options having been offered fresh terms by the club.

Rodwell, who joined as a free agent last summer after leaving Sunderland, has interest in Italy but is understood to be considering his options before making a final call on his future.