Barnsley's Ben Whiteman pursuit is over, insists Doncaster Rovers manager Darren Moore

Summer-long suitors Barnsley have had what Rovers see as a derisory (albeit reportedly seven-figure) bid for their captain turned down this week, and with no possibility of signing a replacement after 5pm on Friday, manager Moore insists his former club have left it too late to succeed with another.

League One Doncaster are, though, pressing ahead with two more potential loan signings, albeit Moore was reluctant to name names for fear of being gazumped.

“It's the end of the matter, it's as simple as that, because it's not deemed anywhere near the club's valuation,” he said of Barnsley's offer at Thursday afternoon's press conference ahead of Saturday's League One trip to Portsmouth. “We feel Ben's an integral part of this club this season, so we move onwards.

“Anything of that magnitude at this time of the window is too late so we just move forward. We've never been flustered with it because our football club's set its stall out from day one and we've been in total control of it so we don't see any problems with it.

“It shows we as a football club and as an organisation know what we are and who we are and we know the value of our players. We know what we're trying to do and achieve this season. All the players are valuable to us, not just Ben, in terms of that.

“There was a bid and it's not there any longer as far as we're concerned.”

Sheffield United product Whiteman's qualities have come to the fore since he joined Doncaster, initially on loan, in the summer of 2017, and Hull City were amongst the clubs looking to sign him last season.

Rovers are still trying to add to their squad and reported interest in Southampton midfielder Josh Sims is thought more likely than a return for Liverpool's Herbie Kane. With finishing a weakness in the early part of this season, it is thought they could go back for another former loanee, in the shape of Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Niall Ennis. Moore was keeping his cards studiously close to his chest, however.

He did divulge: “We're hoping to get a couple more bodies through the door before the deadline.

“There's Josh Sims, (Leeds United's) Robbie Gotts, Niall Ennis, Max Sheaf (Hull), Nathan Broadhead (Everton), Tyrese Shade (Leicester City) – I can give you a whole array of players who've been linked with the football club and will continue to be.

“But if and when we get our couple we're looking at confirmed we'll make it known. We can't yet because of the competition out there for them as well.

“Why it always boils down to this (last-minute scramble for signings) from all of us beggars belief really but it just does.”

Once Friday's deadline passes, the only additions English clubs will be able to make to their squads is out-of-contract players until the transfer window opens again in January.

Doncaster's only injury doubt for Saturday's long trip south is over on-loan Arsenal striker Tyreece John-Jules, who was rested from England Under-21s' win over Turkey as a precaution against a thigh strain. Rovers are waiting on the result of a scan taken with England before deciding on the 19-year-old's availability.

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