Rotherham United close to centre-half deal as target gets Paul Warne seal of approval

Manager Paul Warne met the player last Friday and liked what he saw of a target he has been chasing for the last fortnight.

The Millers will now make contact with the defender's club in the hope of finalising a permanent transfer that could be announced before the end of this week.

"The meeting went really well," said Warne after watching his side win 1-0 at Burton Albion on Saturday to move into sixth place in League One.

"I'll speak to his club about Tuesday time, I reckon, and see.

“I would expect him to come in. Why wouldn't you want to come here, with all due respect? I do want him. He was a perfect character when we met him.

"Our dressing room is made of good characters. That's what I want.

"I explained to him how we treat people, how we try to better people, how we train, how we coach. I said 'Go away, do your due diligence on us and if anything I've told you is a lie don't sign'."

The financial details of a potential move are thought to be already virtually agreed.

The player is believed to be with a club in a higher division than League One and Warne, who is driving south today to talk to one of five wingers he has in his sights before the close of the transfer window, met him along with assistant boss Richie Barker.

He said: "I looked him in the eye and told him as honestly as I could 'I love my centre-halves so you'd be coming here as fourth choice and you might stay fourth choice all season'.

"If that's the case, the other three will have done a good job."

Michael Ihiekwe and Richard Wood were the central defenders against Burton, with fellow centre-half Clark Robertson moving to left-back.

Rotherham have missed out on three other stoppers this summer. They agreed a deal with Blackpool for Curtis Tilt only for the Seasiders to change their mind, then had bids rejected for Marvin Ekpiteta, of Leyton Orient, and an unnamed third target.