TONY Mowbray wants an experienced replacement for David Raya after allowing his number one to leave Ewood Park.

The Spaniard departed Rovers on Saturday for fellow Championship side Brentford for a fee believed to be in the region of £3 million.

With the 23-year-old settling into his new surroundings in West London after signing a four-year deal attentions now turn to who might replace him in East Lancashire.

Mowbray always wanted to make changes to his goalkeeping department this summer as he looks to improve on 15th in the Championship and has a clear idea of what he wants to bring in, signing more than one shot-stopper a distinct possibility.

“David was a young goalkeeper and it was his first year in the Championship,” said the Rovers boss. 

“He’s got bags of talent and is a really athletic goalkeeper.

“At this moment though I think this team needs some experience behind it and a goalkeeper who has been there, seen it and done it and hopefully can help the defensive unit keep some more clean sheets.”

Mowbray revealed Rovers have plenty of options on the table and isn’t ruling out an overseas signing, the club having strengthened their scouting in Europe.

It is now a case of seeing which deal, or deals, make the most sense. 

“We’ve tried hard and have asked a lot of people about goalkeepers,” Mowbray said. 

“We’ve been looking long and hard and ultimately we have to strengthen in that area.

“It’s about seeing which one falls in to place. It’s more than one club we’re speaking to and we’ve got a few goalies who we’ve looked at that we quite like.

“We haven’t ruled out a goalkeeper from abroad either as long as he’s played at the top level and in top divisions.

“There’s lot of options for us, we’re asking the questions and hopefully one will drop in soon.”

One player who will not be joining Rovers is Karl Darlow.

The Newcastle United goalkeeper was linked with Rovers as soon as Raya’s departure was confirmed but he is not a player on the Ewood Park radar.

“I saw his name come up but I’m not sure where that came from,” said Mowbray.

“I don’t know whether that’s an agent trying to put his name out there, I’m not sure.

“That’s not something that will happen I’m sure.”

Andrew Fisher played the full 90 minutes between the sticks in Rovers’ opening friendly at Barrow as the 20 other players used were handed 45 minutes each to ease them into pre-season.

Joe Hilton, a new goalkeeping recruit for the Under-23s after leaving Everton, was on the bench as cover.

Jayson Leutwiler is back at Brockhall after being on international duty with Canada at the Gold Cup but was not involved at Holker Street along with the other players who had been on international duty – Charlie Mulgrew, Ryan Nyambe and Corry Evans.

Leutwiler had the 12-month option taken up in his contract at the end of the season after playing the final four games of the season instead of Raya.

The 30-year-old leaving in search of regular first-team football has not been ruled out though.

He has made just the six league appearances in total for Rovers.