Joey Barton is close to clinching a deal for Luke McCormick – his top target this summer – to return to Bristol Rovers.
Bristol Live understands there has been a breakthrough in negotiations for the AFC Wimbledon midfielder, who has been atop Barton's wishlist as the transfer deadline nears and they are now favourites to secure his signature.
The 23-year-old played for the Gas on loan from Chelsea under Barton in 2020/21, standing out with six goals in a team that would finish bottom of League One.
Had Rovers retained their third-tier status, they would have been in pole position to sign McCormick a year ago, but he chose to stay in League One with Wimbledon and he performed strongly despite Wimbledon's relegation.
McCormick mustered a return of eight goals and nine assists in 47 appearances in all competitions last season, meaning he would be a quality addition to Barton's depleted ranks in attacking midfield. Elliot Anderson, Luke Thomas and Sam Nicholson have all left the club this summer and are yet to be replaced, and although McCormick is more of a central attacking player he has the makings of a dynamic addition to a squad that already boasts goalscorers from the centre of the park like Antony Evans and Sam Finley.
McCormick has not featured for Johnnie Jackson's Dons so far this season. The midfielder is not injured, but after making his desire to leave Plough Lane clear he has not been considered for selection.
A return to Rovers has always been McCormick's preference this summer amid links with the likes of Charlton Athletic and Hibernian, and after several weeks of negotiations, he is on course to have his wish granted. His previous stint working with Barton was brief, but they worked well together and that has been a deciding factor in his desire to return to BS7.
Wimbledon have been stubborn in negotiations, slapping an asking price in excess of £200,000 on the player, but Rovers have been reluctant to rush into a deal, despite Barton's eagerness for him to return. The player's contract at Plough Lane lasts until 2024.
Should a deal be wrapped up, he would join Rovers' six summer signings so far. Jordan Rossiter, James Gibbons, James Connolly, John Marquis, Lewis Gordon and Lewis Gibson have already joined the Gas and Barton wants several more additions before the window closes on August 31, with hopes of wrapping up some business before the visit of Shrewsbury Town to the Mem at the weekend.
"I imagine there will be some movement this week and I hope we don’t wait until the last day of the window to take them off the board. I’m hoping we can get at least two, maybe even more over the line," Barton said.
“But if not, I know I’m five short and I’ve got five to do and that’s on the back of no one going out. We might lose one or two as well and in that case, we might have to replace them.
“We’ve got a bit of work to do in the market. We’ve got Shrewsbury at home and after that, we can bed the group in and start to make progress.”
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