Dale look set to set sign former Middlesbrough midfielder Connor Malley.
The 22-year-old central midfielder had been on trial at Rochdale in pre-season and featured in the friendly at Darlington and now it seems that he will be joining Rochdale on a permanent basis.
Malley began his footballing career at Sunderland before joining Middlesbrough in 2017.
He featured six times for Middlesbrough U21's in the Football League Trophy.
He went on loan to Ayr United in the Scottish Championship in January 2020 and made 5 appearances, scoring on his debut in a 2-1 defeat against Morton. Obviously, Covid put a premature end to his spell there.
The following season saw Malley head out to Carlisle on loan but he only made three substitute in the league and two Football League Trophy appearances. He did end the season in Middlesbrough's first team squad, coming off the bench three times against Rotherham, Sheffield Wednesday and Wycombe.
Last season, he dropped down to the National League North to join Gateshead on loan. He scored 3 goals in 11 appearances for The Tynesiders in what was a succesful loan spell, ending with Gateshead winning the league and getting promoted to the National League.