Rovers are closing in on the signing of Danny Batth after a long-standing interest in the defender, The Lancashire Telegraph understands.

Batth is a free agent after leaving Norwich at the end of last season and is understood to have had a number of offers from the UK and overseas.

But Rovers are close to finally getting their man after a deal was agreed to bring the 33-year-old to Ewood Park. He is now set to have a medical in the next 48 hours.

Batth was a target for Rovers last summer and had agreed a two-year contract before problems off the pitch scuppered the move.

He has a wealth of experience following spells with Wolves, Sheffield Wednesday, Stoke and Sunderland among others.

Batth made 19 appearances for Norwich last season as the Canaries finished in the play-offs before coming up short against Leeds over two legs.

Dom Hyam and Hayden Carter are currently Rovers’ only centre-back options with Championship experience while Scott Wharton is out of action with a long-term injury.

Connor O’Riordan and Pat Gamble have featured in pre-season, while Kyle McFadzean is set to re-join the club after making 12 appearances during the second half of last season.

Rovers have made two senior signings so far this summer following the additions of Makhtar Gueye and Yuki Ohashi. The club has also confirmed the arrival of Exaucé Mafoumbi from Nantes.

The 19-year-old has put pen to paper over a three-year deal with the option of a further 12 months. He will now link up with Mike Sheron's Under-21 squad.

Meanwhile, a tribunal will be required to determine the compensation fee owed to the club for promising youngster Rory Finneran ahead of his imminent move to Premier League Newcastle.

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