Rovers have pulled the plug on a move for Sepp van den Berg.

The Lancashire Telegraph understands that Rovers have now drawn a line under the ongoing transfer saga.

It is now expected that the 20-year-old will join Bundesliga side Schalke on loan instead.

Rovers had agreed a deal with Liverpool for van den Berg earlier this month.

That had been held up due to injuries within the Liverpool squad, with van den Berg included on the bench in their opening four Premier League games.

However, the return to fitness of Nat Phillips was set to free up van den Berg to move out on loan, with Rovers expected to have finally secured his signature over the weekend.

But in another twist, van den Berg is said to prefer a move to Schalke who have been alerted to his availability due to injuries within their squad.

While that hasn’t yet been finalised, Rovers are now moving on from the van den Berg deal, with the defender not now making the move to Ewood Park.

Rovers last night finalised the signing of Coventry City defender Dominic Hyam on a permanent.

The club had looked to sign two new central defenders in this window, with Hyam and van den Berg looking set to finalise Rovers’ recruitment in that position.

Steven Caulker had been another option, with the expected scenario that Rovers signed two out of those three.

But with Caulker having now got himself fixed up, that means Rovers are now left with a decision as to whether to look for another option to add to their central defensive ranks, or stick with those at their disposal.

Any move for last season’s player of the year, Jan Paul van Hecke, have been ruled out at this stage.

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