Defensive additions remain Tony Mowbray’s top transfer priority with Rovers turning their attentions the European market as the wait to land Tosin Adarabioyo goes on.

Mowbray is keen to add up to two new defenders, and hopes to conclude them before the season opener against Charlton on Saturday, with the transfer window open until August 8.

A season-long loan deal for Manchester City youngster Adarabioyo appears to have stalled, and with the wait dragging on, Rovers are exploring other avenues.

That includes overseas permanent signings, with Fortuna Dusseldorf defender Robin Bormuth one of several under consideration, though the boss wouldn't be drawn on the identity of his targets.

Mowbray says targets have been identified and deals worked on, with Rovers yet sign any new defenders this summer.

Rovers have so far been unable to nail down their top European targets, but remaining hopeful, Mowbray said: “We have spoken a lot about the recruitment department and wanting it to grow.

“It’s alright trying to buy players from Gillingham and wherever else we were looking, if you look at the teams we’re aspiring to be like, you have to be in the market place to find these players.

“We have been close with some signings but they aren’t easy.

“We’ll see what happens.”

Adam Maher was one of the top targets this summer, with the midfielder available on a free transfer, only to stay in Holland with Vitesse. Deals for a goalkeeper and midfielder have also fallen away, but is still belief that an overseas signing will arrive before the deadline.

Mowbray added: “It’s the same principles you’re just working with different people.

“The world of agents has changed significantly in the last 10 years and that can become frustrating at times.

“I’m very pragmatic though, if a deal is there to be done we’ll do it.

“But if the players are too expensive or they want too much money then we don’t.

“That’s generally how football works.

“It doesn’t matter where they’re from. If they’re good players then we’ll try and sign them.”

Rovers have so far made four summer signings, with the wait for a fifth ongoing.

“You win some you lose some,” the boss said.

“As long as we have the targets, and I have a menu to work off, and the recruitment department have given me players on where we want to go for each position.

“The frustration can be that they fall away quite quickly or the player that was your number one target signs for someone else.

“The process is still ongoing and we may be still working on the last day of the window trying to finish it off.

“But as I sit here today I’m relatively okay with it but we do need some defensive options that can compete with the players we’ve got.”