The appetite for transfers among Bristol Rovers fans is peaking as the new season fast approaches. Optimism and excitement remain after the heroics of last season, but there is a growing recognition that the Gas are in need of some reinforcements.
Joey Barton is not blind to this fact, with up to seven additions in mind by the time the transfer window closes on September 1. The starting XI is solid, but additions are wanted in each third of the pitch to add depth and quality to Barton's resources.
Here is the state of play for some of Rovers' key targets this summer...
Luke Thomas
Rovers are pushing for the return of Luke Thomas on a permanent deal after spending last season on loan from Barnsley. It was a turbulent spell at first, but he came on strong at the end of the season after some tough love from Barton spelt out a few home truths.
Thomas responded brilliantly and Barton relied on him in the big moments at the end of the season, indicating the trust he earned from the manager, and the Rovers boss wants to continue their working relationship. That makes plenty of sense in the context of the new five-substitute rule, with Thomas a point-of-difference player who offers variety and can make an impact in the starting XI or off the bench.
All parties are content for the deal to happen – Thomas loved his time in BS7 and a permanent move close to his Gloucestershire home is appealing – but it is understood progress has slowed in recent days. Rovers hope an agreement can be reached but a deal is in the balance.
The 23-year-old, meanwhile, continues to work hard as Barnsley put the finishing touches on their pre-season, and his recent comments show he is handling the uncertainty over his future maturely.
Thomas has featured regularly for Barnsley this summer, playing in friendlies against Worksop, Nottingham Forest and Harrogate Town. "We want people who want to be here and he’s been top drawer," Duff said last week. "His attitude has been brilliant.”
Luke McCormick
Luke McCormick was one of very few bright spots in the miserable 2020/21 season that ended with relegation to League Two. On loan from Chelsea, he took on a leading role despite his lack of senior experience and scored six goals from midfield, including some match-winning performances in the second half of the season.
Had Rovers survived relegation, McCormick could have been a Rovers player already but he opted to stay in the third tier with AFC Wimbledon. On a personal note, it was a good season for the 23-year-old, scoring seven goals and producing eight assists in 40 appearances.
But it was another year soured by relegation for the midfielder with Wimbledon plunging into League Two after a bizarre second half of the season where leads were thrown away on almost a weekly basis.
It is a move that appeals to all except the Dons. Having sold prized asset Jack Rudoni – a player not dissimilar to McCormick – for a fee that could reach £1million, Wimbledon have no apparent need to sell and McCormick is a key player in Johnnie Jackson's plans to clinch an immediate return to the third tier.
It is understood a fee in excess of £200,000 would be required to get the ball rolling – a significant sum in the current climate – and McCormick has two years remaining on his contract, strengthening Wimbledon's position.
This was always going to be a tricky deal to do, and the sale of Rudoni has only complicated matters further.
Connor Taylor
It appears to be a case of one in, one out for Stoke City centre-backs this week. The club is reportedly in talks with free agent Alfie Mawson, formerly of Swansea City and Fulham. Meanwhile, Stoke have allowed 21-year-old Will Forrester to leave on a permanent deal, joining local rivals Port Vale on Tuesday.
Rovers are monitoring the situation closely as they eye the return of another loan star from last season: Connor Taylor. The 20-year-old has been put under the microscope at his parent club this summer as they assess his readiness for Championship football after a stellar spell in BS7, where he formed an excellent partnership with James Connolly and made 42 league appearances, scoring three crucial goals.
The Gas are in need of a couple of additions in the centre of defence after the end of Taylor's loan and the release of Cian Harries earlier this summer.
Forrester's case is thought to be unrelated; Taylor was a more highly rated prospect. Should a deal be struck with Mawson, he would slot in ahead of Taylor in the pecking order at the Bet365 Stadium, which could increase the chances he is sent out on loan, but the sense in the Potteries is it will not change much either.
Stoke continue to take their time with manager Micheal O'Neill taking every opportunity to assess Taylor's development and there is no certainty he will be loaned out, even if there end up being three or four centre-backs ahead of him in the queue. This is a situation that could go unresolved until the deadline.
Elliot Anderson
The headline act of last season's promotion charge, Elliot Anderson, is – like Taylor – back at his parent club vying to win a place in the first-team squad. The 19-year-old has played regularly for Eddie Howe's Newcastle United and he is set to get a runout on Tuesday evening against Benfica in Lisbon.
The Scotland under-21 international, who racked up seven goals and six assists in 20 starts with the Gas after joining on January deadline day, appears to be taking his chance with both hands and he is on track to start the season in Newcastle's Premier League squad.
As referenced before, the five-sub rule could give him greater chances at St James' Park, which may tempt Newcastle to keep developing him in-house.
Should they opt to loan him out – and that decision could come late in the window – there is a long queue of clubs eager to take him on. According to reports in Scotland, as many as 12 across Britain are keen including Hearts, Hibs, West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City.
Rovers are also on that list but the chances of a Mem return are increasingly remote, with a role in Howe's squad a realistic possibility.
Don't be sad that it's over, be glad it happened in the first place. Anything else would be an enormous bonus.
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