How Doncaster Rovers' recruitment drive has progressed this week

Richie Wellens is confident of securing other new signings for Doncaster Rovers soon after meeting with multiple potential targets this week.
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The Rovers boss spent Monday and Tuesday meeting with players both in Doncaster and outside of the town, as he looks to build his squad following the signing of midfielder Ben Close earlier this week.

The Free Press understands he met with a pair of right backs, two left backs, two centre halves, two goalkeepers and a defensive midfielder and had further meetings planned.

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Wellens presented his vision for the squad to each of the potential targets and how he sees them fitting into his style of play.

Ben CloseBen Close
Ben Close

The players and their representatives then held talks with Rovers’ head of talent identification Graham Younger to explore the possibility of progressing deals.

Wellens felt Rovers were close to completing another deal - understood to be a centre half - but was awaiting final confirmation from the player’s camp.

The Rovers boss hopes to have as many signings as possible completed by the time the squad report for pre-season testing on June 24.

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Within that, he would prefer to have his defensive and midfield acquisitions on board for the start of pre-season to begin putting his tactical stamp on the squad.

Wellens feels putting the groundwork in with those positions will give Rovers the foundations for the attacking players to operate with freedom.

Early assessment of the transfer market within League One has revealed an extremely competitive field with budget levels towards the top of the division increasing on last year’s spending.

Wellens plans to take the squad away for a training camp for a few days as part of pre-season preparations.

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The club’s hopes of holding onto Reece James ended in disappointment, albeit expectedly so, as he signed a three-year deal with newly promoted Championship side Blackpool.

Wellens withdrew contract offers made to Brad Halliday and Jason Lokilo while negotiations are continuing with young midfielders Lirak Hasani and Liam Ravenhill.

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