Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray has dismissed suggestions of a move for Crewe Alexandra left-back Harry Pickering earlier in the window.

It was reported earlier in the week that Rovers had made an offer to Crewe for Pickering, although it is now thought that the club have been priced out of a move due to issues around additional clauses and fees.

Now it seems as though Mowbray is reluctant to be comment on his side's links with the 22-year-old, with a deal now seemingly out of the question.

Speaking about those links with Pickering, Mowbray told The Lancashire Telegraph: “I don’t know about that to be honest. We’ve got two left backs, I’m not sure where that came from.

“We’ve got Barry Douglas, we’ve got Amari’i Bell, it would seem mad to me to sign a left back when you haven’t got any centre halves.”

Despite that, it seems Mowbray does not want to rule out any permanent signings at Ewood Park this month, although he admits that deals such as those will not be easy.

Asked about the prospect of securing a permanent deal for a player this month, the Blackburn boss added: “It depends. We’ve only got so much money and if you’re trying to loan from the Premier League it generally costs you more than if you’re trying to buy from a lower league.

“Yet it depends on the price of the signing really. We will wait and see what order things fall in and hopefully they fall in. I’m sitting here trying to improve the football club.

“I’d always prefer to sign players because then they’re our players and we can improve them and move them on for our benefit, and not for that of other clubs."

Blackburn have made just one signing so far during the January transfer window, wit 18-year-old centre back Jarrad Branthwaite joining on loan from Everton until the end of the season.

The Verdict

It is in an interesting situation that Blackburn find themselves in in this transfer window.

While they do currently have two left-backs available, Douglas is only on loan until the end of the season, when Bell's contract at Ewood Park is set to expire.

As a result, it does seem Blackburn are still going to have to secure for at least one left back either now or in the summer, and Pickering would have been an excellent option to do that with.

However, with three centre backs currently out injured, that has to be a bigger priority for Rovers at the minute, meaning the left back situation will have to wait, and it will be frustrating for them if they are to miss out on someone such as Pickering as a result of that.