Bristol Rovers are closing in on an ambitious swoop for Plymouth Argyle centre-back James Wilson, with the Gas stealing him from under the noses of the League One champions.
Bristol Live understands that Wilson is due at The Quarters for a medical this week having agreed on personal terms following an exhaustive pursuit by Rovers who have made him their No1 defensive target this summer.
The 34-year-old is out of contract at Home Park this summer and the Gas have presented him with a longer and more financially appealing contract than the one offered to him by Plymouth who could now lose the second major piece of their title-winning side after Niall Ennis joined Blackburn Rovers last month.
The move would represent a major coup for Rovers and Joey Barton, with Wilson a dominant League One centre-back who would bring much needed nous, leadership and stability to a defence which was the Gas’ Achilles heel for much of last season.
Wilson began his career south of the river at Bristol City after emerging through their academy and still has friends and family based in the city, which has also helped with negotiations which began at the end of last season.
Bristol Live has learned that it wasn’t just Barton who was enamoured with the veteran as after Plymouth’s 2-0 win over Rovers at Home Park at the end of April, several members of the Gas hierarchy were in agreement that he was exactly what the team requires to climb up the table.
Barton also namechecked him after the final day of the season against Bolton Wanderers, noting the experienced characters who made up many of the promotion-challenging sides in League One last season.
For all their positive attacking play throughout 2022/23, Rovers were regularly undone by a talented but inexperienced defence - with Lewis Gibson often the senior partner at 22 - which struggled to keep clean sheets.
Wilson provides not only toughness and attitude at the back but is also expected to be given the captain’s armband in the wake of Paul Coutts’ exit on a free transfer. Although 34, he has been a near ever-present member of the Plymouth defence over his two seasons in Devon, making 49 and 43 appearances in all competitions.
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