Bristol Rovers deadline day: Joey Barton provides transfer update amid Clarke-Harris links

Joey Barton admits he is working on the basis that Bristol Rovers don’t sign anybody else in the transfer window.

The transfer deadline is at 11.00 pm tonight, and the Gas are in the market for one more player, a striker. Jonson Clarke-Harris’ name has been mentioned in the last fortnight or so, and Rovers are in the market for a player of his calibre.

A player of his ability however doesn’t come cheaply, and Posh will want the £1m and more that they bought him for in 2019. The 29-year-old was last season’s League One top scorer, but was transfer listed by his club and removed from the captaincy.

In an interview with BBC Radio Bristol on Thursday, Barton said: “We’re just working hard.

“I spoke last week about what we were looking for. We’re 24 hours out or something like that and I am none the wiser.

“For me, it’s about preparing the team to win on Saturday with what we’ve got at our disposal.

“If things change kind of ins-or-outs in between then you can formulate different strategies.

“At the moment, I’m working towards what I’ve got and that we won’t get anyone in and we won’t lose anyone out. Until I’m told otherwise.”

Rovers are in the market for a striker, having been unable to finish off some of their chances, which have seen them win just one match this season. Saturday’s defeat to Wycombe Wanderers was frustrating, given they dominated possession, but lacked the clinical edge in the final third.

Earlier this summer, Rovers made a move for Alfie May, who was Cheltenham Town’s best player for two seasons, but he opted for a move to Charlton Athletic. It is the one position that Barton is prioritising today, as he still believes that Josh Coburn needs to be replaced, having returned back to Middlesbrough following a season-long loan spell.

He added: “For us, we’re still missing one piece of the jigsaw. I feel I’ve tried to sign a striker and that was the first player I tried to sign.

“I do still think with Josh Coburn not being here, John (Marquis) Lofty (Ryan) and Josh were our strike force last year with Aaron.

“I think that’s the one department we haven’t managed to strengthen.

“It’s the toughest department in this window, you’ve seen some of the numbers and figures banded about for strikers at this level and it might be when the deadline closes tomorrow we come up short.

“It won’t be for lack of endeavour or trying, certainly on my part or the recruitment teams part but sometimes in a market you don’t get everything you want.”

Rovers’ pursuit of Clarke-Harris has been documented, and a knock-on effect of that could be the possible departure of Ryan Loft. It was reported by the BristolPost yesterday that Port Vale expressed their interest to sign Loft, along with another League One club who had ‘strong interest’ in the 25-year-old.

“There is so many moving parts,” added Barton when asked if Rovers would consider alternative targets.

“Clubs are trying to get people interested to drive their valuations up. You’ve got people trying to get your players but you can’t let them out until you get one in.

“Usually one domino falls and it sets off a chain reaction. At this moment in time the domino as I talk to you today, haven’t quite fell yet. It doesn’t mean that they won’t but also I have to prepare for all possibilities.

“We’ll make a plan and find a way of winning games with what we’ve got. We’ve got some really good players in the building. I think everybody in the quartered jersey persuasion knows what we’re looking for.

“There’s the financial element of that, and the moving parts element of that with all parties being happy and a deal being struck.

They’re never done until they’re done, no matter how confident you feel, because you’re like this when you’re buying a house.

“You’re at risk of getting gazumped and certainly in our industry. They say one thing to you and at the same time they’re speaking to 58 other people behind the scenes.

“We’re grafting away, and hopefully we can get some good news and if we don’t, we’ve recruited really well.