Portsmouth and Doncaster are two of the clubs looking to sign former Blackburn Rovers defender Paul Downing, as reported by the Doncaster Free Press.

Rovers narrowly missed out on a place in the play-off final, going down on penalties against Charlton after a spirited fight back at the Valley. Grant McCann is resigned to losing key players, such as captain Tommy Rowe, but is also keen on adding experience to his ranks.

Defender Andy Butler has also left the club having refused to take a pay cut in the summer, subsequently joining Scunthorpe United in League Two.

Downing spent time on loan at the Keepmoat last season and impressed in his 20 outings, making him a prime target this summer. However, another vanquished play-off semi-finalist, Portsmouth, are also thought to be in the hunt.

They lost 1-0 on aggregate to Sunderland in an uninspiring pair of matches and look resigned to losing Matt Clarke this summer. Kenny Jackett is believed to want Downing to cover the loss of the 23-year-old.

The Verdict

Downing proved himself to be a competent and accomplished defender in League One last season and is sure to attract significant interest.

McCann has spoken of how keen he is to conclude a deal, but simply having played there last season might not be enough for the 27-year-old.

He'll have to assess if the club he joins matches his ambition. It's likely he'll want to move to whichever outfit look most likely to give him a swift return to second-tier football.