Darren Moore on bids for Doncaster Rovers captain Ben Whiteman

DONCASTER ROVERS manager Darren Moore admits that offers for in-demand captain Ben Whiteman have not been 'appealing' for the club - and is relaxed regarding ongoing interest in the talismanic midfielder.
Doncaster Rovers' captain Ben Whiteman. Picture: Marie Caley.Doncaster Rovers' captain Ben Whiteman. Picture: Marie Caley.
Doncaster Rovers' captain Ben Whiteman. Picture: Marie Caley.

Whiteman, 24, outstanding since moving to the club from Sheffield United, has been linked with several Championship sides including Rovers' South Yorkshire neighbours Barnsley and Blackburn Rovers, among others.

Already this summer, Rovers have rebuffed offers from the second-tier - which have not come near their valuation of the player.

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Speaking earlier this month, Rovers chief executive Gavin Baldwin said that it would take an ‘exceptional’ offer for the club to agree to sell their star asset.

On interest in Whiteman, Moore, whose side kick off the new season with a Carabao Cup trip to Blackburn on Saturday, said: "We can understand (it) with Ben. We have had one or two sniffs for Ben and at the moment, the situation for those seeking Ben Whiteman has not been appealing to us because we value Ben very, very highly.

"Ben knows our thoughts towards him so we keep the working relationship open and transparent and we keep working.

"That openness and transparency is something I have always had with the players.

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"At the moment, there will be interest in him and we have got some good players here. I get it and understand it, but at the moment, it is nothing that would be appealing to us as a football club."

On whether the club have a set valuation figure for Whiteman, Moore continued: "Yes, we have a valuation of him and we know what that valuation is. Every player has got a valuation on his head and Ben is no different.

"But I will just work with Ben and Ben will continue to work for the best interests of everyone connected with Doncaster Rovers Football Club."

Rovers could hand debuts to new loan signings Josef Bursik - called up by England under-21s for the first time this week - and Taylor Richards and fellow newcomer Jason Lokilo in Lancashire on Saturday.

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Meanwhile, Moore has confirmed that bringing in some goalkeeping cover - with Bursik potentially having more international commitments in 2020-21 - is something he will look at ahead of the transfer deadline.

On adding another keeper to compensate for potential absences for Bursik, Moore, who says that full-back Reece James is 50-50 for Saturday's trip to Ewood Park, said: "I feel so for that very reason - that he will be called up for international duty as and when.

"When you look at that, we need another goalkeeper in possibly. Not only for cover, but for training purposes really in terms of working as when there is international football, League One and Two carries on.

"That will be an area we look at later down the line."

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