Sepp van den Berg is one of a number of Premier League youngsters who Rovers have enquired about – with Liverpool set to make a decision on his future this week.

It comes as the Premier League champions are looking to get the 19-year-old Dutchman some valuable first-team experience out on loan, but that looks set to be on the continent, rather than the Championship.

Liverpool are reported to have held talks with three clubs over a potential loan move, all in Europe, with Rovers understood to have lodged an enquiry.

Goal report the Reds have spoken to clubs in Belgium, Germany and Switzerland about the possibility of taking van den Verg on loan until the end of the season, despite Liverpool’s defensive injury crisis.

Van den Berg signed for Liverpool in the summer of 2019 for just over £1m, arriving from PEC Zwolle, and while he is yet to make an appearance in a Premier League matchday squad, he did play in two Carabao Cup matches earlier this season.

He has been a regular for their Under-23s side, scoring in the game against Rovers in December, with Billy Koumetio, Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams seemingly ahead of him in Jurgen Klopp’s pecking order.

Rovers hope to conclude their search for a new central defender ahead of the visit of Stoke City, with Tony Mowbray without senior options Daniel Ayala, Derrick Williams and Scott Wharton, with Bradley Johnson having filled in of late.

Mowbray said Premier League clubs had been unwilling to allow their young players to leave before the FA Cup third round weekend, and hopes for positive news this week.

Rovers have developed a strong relationship with Liverpool in recent times, not least since taking Harvey Elliott on a season-long loan, but van den Berg looks unlikely to be the man they land.

Jarrad Branthwaite, of Everton, is another option, with the Toffees set to allow him to spend the remainder of the campaign out on loan, though several other Championship clubs are in the running.