In two months' time the summer of speculation, transfer talk tittle-tattle will all be at end. So what have we learned so far about Rovers' recruitment policy?

Although Rovers are yet to make any new signings, that hasn't reduced the level of interest, speculation, or indeed talk about what direction the club take.

A 15th-placed finish on their return to the Championship brought with it many positives, but also areas to address, most likely through new personnel.

Tony Mowbray has made no secret of the fact new defenders will be arriving this summer, while a goalkeeper is also high on his priority list.

A striker to compete with Danny Graham is also a long-term target, while the aim of a more progressive style of football next season could hinge on a new-look central midfield.

There has been investment in the recruitment department in a bid to improve the success ratio of new signings, with more of a focus on the European market.

But that could well come in time, and UK-based players are the most likely incomings in this window.

Stewart Downing, a free agent after leaving Middlesbrough, is a confirmed target and there seems a focus as well on adding experience to help take what is a promising group of young players forward.

Another player whose availability has been enquired about is Republic of Ireland international Glenn Whelen, released after Aston Villa's successful promotion bid.

At 35, Whelen is highly experienced, with 35 Championship appearances to his name last season, 23 as a starter. A return to Stoke City seems the most likely destination for Whelan this summer, and Rovers' enquiry was likely to eve be anything more than that, but it highlights how Mowbray is keen to add more knowhow to his current group.

That wouldn't be such a bad thing given Rovers' propensity to crumble on too many occasions and there was a naivety about the way this team handled disappointment and setbacks during games, demonstrated by the amount of late goals conceded.

Players in the latter stages of their careers wouldn't be universally popular, with some supporters feeling the club have been stung too many times by similar recruits in the past.

However, Rovers have worked hard in recent times to trim the wage budget and implement a structyre, and have learned the hard way when it comes to extended deals on big money for players with no re-sale value.

Steve Waggott revealed a similar budget as last season has been made available to Mowbray who is scouring the European market for prospective signings, but is also not expected to veer too far away from his previous profile of signing.

Mowbray talks about balance regularly, marrying attributes of players, so expect that in the transfer market as well.

Last summer around £8m was committed in transfer fees on players aged 23 or under. The model of developing young players with re-sale value remains a long-term goal for the club's aim of becoming more self-sustainable.

Rovers won’t want to disrupt the harmony in the dressing room by handing out wage packets far higher than those earned by the players who have played a key role in the club’s recent journey.

Mowbray will want to freshen up a squad however which many feel has been taken as it can go. Working out who can build on the platform of last season is the task this summer, whatever the players’ profile.

If and when transfer links become public, it is worth remembering they won’t be the only players being targeted, and it wouldn’t be in Rovers’ interest to get in to any bidding wars, hence why the club prefers to keep things close to their chest.