Blackburn Rovers are in talks with experienced defender Danny Batth about a move to Ewood Park, The Lancashire Telegraph understands.

Rovers have a long-standing historical interest in the 33-year-old, who is currently a free agent after leaving Norwich City at the end of his contract.

Batth had agreed a two-year deal at Ewood Park last summer, only for the off-field problems with Venky's to scupper the move. Both Jon Dahl Tomasson and Gregg Broughton were extremely keen on getting the deal done, at the time.

However, the Rovers hierarchy have held concerns about signing any player with little resale value after their investment in Daniel Ayala. That same issue has reared its head this summer with negotiations to sign Liam Cooper.

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Batth, who was Sunderland's Player of the Year in 2022/23, left the Stadium of Light on deadline day and moved to Norwich on a one-year deal. His game time was limited under David Wagner, who had international defenders, and former Rovers men, such as Grant Hanley, Shane Duffy and finally Ben Gibson to choose from.

Rovers were interested in bringing Batth to the club in January but as he had already featured for Sunderland, in the early rounds of the Carabao Cup, and Norwich, he couldn't play for another English club.

Fast forward six months and Batth is again a transfer target. The Lancashire Telegraph understands that head coach John Eustace is particularly keen to sign Batth and has been a long-time admirer of the defender.

The 33-year-old is viewed as an ideal addition to add experience and leadership to the Rovers squad. Rebalancing the average age of the team has been a priority for Eustace this summer.

Batth has been club captain and a first-choice selection everywhere he's been throughout his career. He was a fans' favourite at Wolves, Stoke City and Sunderland.

His injury record is exemplary too which has been a concern with other targets. He played 40 games for Sunderland in 2022/23 in the Championship and 83 times in two and a half years at Stoke.

Batth has interest from several other clubs but it's understood he would be keen on a move to Ewood Park despite the issues that presented themselves last year.

Wages and length of the deal are unlikely to be a stumbling block in the same manner they were with Cooper. The Leeds United captain offered to reduce his salary with a higher appearance fee but, at the time of writing, a compromise hasn't been agreed.

Batth has been training with former club Wolves since leaving Norwich in the summer whilst he weighs up contract offers. 

With Rovers looking at Cooper and Batth recently, it's unlikely that they will revisit a deal for Kyle McFadzean. The defender agreed a deal in principle weeks ago but that has never progressed.

It's understood the 37-year-old is now considering other options with a return to Ewood Park growing increasingly unlikely.