Rovers have been given encouragement in their pursuit of Portsmouth winger Ronan Curtis who is ready to leave the League One side.

The club have tracked the Republic of Ireland winger for 18 months but were put off by Pompey’s valuation for the winger who has scored 40 times in his three years at Fratton Park.

He then signed a long-term extension to his deal through to 2023, but Pompey’s failure to secure a play-off finish last season has increased the prospect of Curtis looking for a move this summer.

Rovers are in the market for another attacker, with Harvey Elliott having returned to Liverpool and top scorer Adam Armstrong is expected to depart after a goal-laden campaign.

And Curtis’ agent, Omid Arbabamin, said his client is ready to test himself at the next level.

He said: “Every player needs to be playing at the highest level they can – and I definitely think Ronan’s worthy of that.”

Arbabamin, of SME 83 Football Agency, says interest is strong in Curtis, but doesn’t expect a quick resolution with the EFL play-offs still ongoing, and the transfer window not yet open.

He believes the 25-year-old has proven his quality in the third tier, and also shown his commitment to Pompey by signing a new deal in February 2020 when interest in his services was rife.

The Lancashire Telegraph revealed Rovers’ interest in Curtis having watched him closely leading up to the January 2020 window, and his agent says international recognition is key to a decision on his future.

He told the Portsmouth News: “Anyone that’s playing for their country needs to always be competing at the highest level possible.

“Whatever decision Ronan makes shouldn’t be based on salary, it should be on the level of football. He wants to play in as high a league as he can, like any player.

“Ronan has served his time well here and wants to keep on developing.

“It has to be the right deal for the buying club, the right deal for the selling club, and the right deal for the player, and right place for the player.”