James Norwood will this week decide on offers from Bristol Rovers and Oxford United, Bristol Live understands, as the striker plots his next destination in League One.
Norwood is available on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract at Ipswich Town and has held talks with Joey Barton and Oxford boss Karl Robinson. Both clubs are expecting an answer imminently with Rovers due back at The Quarters this week for the start of pre-season training.
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Barton could prove to be the trump card in negotiations given the vision of Rovers he’s sold to the 31-year-old plus the pair share the same agent and went on a golfing holiday together earlier this month in Scotland.
He also is close to assistant coach Andy Mangan, with the two having enjoyed a prolific partnership with Forest Green Rovers in the National League and have remained friends since.
Signing a striker has been among Barton’s transfer priorities this summer following the exits of experienced duo Leon Clarke and Brett Pitman at the end of last season. Norwood brings plenty of EFL nous and would add depth alongside top-scorer Aaron Collins, Ryan Loft and Harvey Saunders.
Norwood spent three years at the Tractor Boys after joining the club in June 2019 and scored 28 goals in 88 appearances across all competitions. Despite being released at the end of the season, as recently as December the forward was named Ipswitch Town's player of the month in a fan vote.
Having come through the ranks at Eastbourne Town and then Exeter City, Norwood spent the majority of his career at Forest Green Rovers, who of course have also been promoted to League One ahead of the 2022/23 season with the Gas, and Tranmere Rovers.
During his time at Tranmere the striker scored 89 goals in 179 appearances and provided 28 assists.
Charlton Athletic, Portsmouth, and Plymouth Argyle have also linked with interest in the centre-forward as League One managers up and down the country look for proven goalscorers.
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