Doncaster aim to keep trio

Doncaster boss Dean Saunders is hoping to agree deals to keep Habib Beye, Pascal Chimbonda and Herita Ilunga until the end of the season.

Saunders looking to secure defenders for the rest of the season

Doncaster Rovers manager Dean Saunders is hoping to agree deals to keep defensive trio Habib Beye, Pascal Chimbonda and Herita Ilunga at the club until the end of the season. Beye joined Rovers on a three-month loan from Aston Villa in November, while Ilunga is on a similar arrangement from West Ham United having arrived at the Keepmoat Stadium in October. Experienced full-back Chimbonda, meanwhile, is on a short-term contract, but has recently been sidelined by a hip injury. Saunders completed deals for Damien Plessis, Habib Bamogo and Mamadou Bagayoko on Friday, in addition to persuading El Hadji Diouf to agree an extension. The Rovers boss is now turning his attention to his squad's defence and is optimistic he can hang on to the experience of Beye, Chimbonda and Ilunga. "I'm hoping to tie up deals with those defenders," said Saunders. "If we are capable of that then we know where we are at until the end of the season."