Bristol Rovers January transfer window latest as former QPR and West Brom man possibility

Bristol Rovers have space to do business - but Joey Barton wants players off the books first
Has Joey Barton made a subtle hint about signing Charlie Austin? (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)Has Joey Barton made a subtle hint about signing Charlie Austin? (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)
Has Joey Barton made a subtle hint about signing Charlie Austin? (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

Joey Barton admits Bristol Rovers are looking at the free agent market but players may have to leave first. The January transfer window is approaching and the Gas are being tipped by their manager to do business.

Rovers signed 10 players in the summer as they tried to acclimatise to League One after an overhaul of the playing squad last season. A core of the promotion-winning team has remained, but several bodies have been added to deal with the challenge of playing in the third tier.

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Barton has built a solid platform with Rovers 10th in the league, just two points off the playoffs and ten points above the drop zone. The Gas’ first objective is to achieve 52 points that would in all likelihood achieve their target of survival. Several players remain without clubs after being released in the summer, whilst one specific name has become available that could be of interest to Barton.

Charlie Austin’s contract with Australian club Brisbane Roar has been terminated after just six months, over family-related reasons. Austin was reportedly at former club Swindon Town on Boxing Day, with owner Clem Morfuni, who are open to the prospect of signing him. Crawley Town are also said to hold an interest, as they seek a replacement for Tom Nicholls, who is leaving the Red Devils to join Gillingham.

Goals have not been an issue for Rovers, who have an abundance of attacking options in Aaron Collins with 18-goal contributions, as well as Josh Coburn and Ryan Loft. Coburn is set to remain with Rovers after Middlesbrough gave assurances over the season-long loan deal. Loft meanwhile has struggled with injuries, which has been a detrament to his season.

Barton knows Austin from his playing days with the two linking together at Queens Park Rangers and it could be an option worth exploring. The 33-year-old has 122 goals in both the Premier League and the Championship, and also performed exceptionally well for Swindon Town in League One, scoring 31 times in 54 matches.

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“There’s a couple of lads who are out of contract that could be of interest to us in the early part of January,” Barton said when asked about any imminent transfer business. “As you know it’ll go to the last dying embers of the window, it always does.

In a subtle hint about Austin, who has ‘come home’ from a spell abroad in Australia, Barton was asked wheter it was current free agents he was looking at. “There’s always a few isn’t there?,” he responded. “There are people who have been abroad who might be coming home.”

“We’ve got a couple to get out that need to go out, play, and kickstart their careers. I just feel the group is at a point now where the January window comes and allows a little bit of tweaking. It’ll just freshen up the training environment and hopefully, it gives us a springboard to attack the New Year.”

Any arrivals may have to come after any departures first, with Rovers permitted to sign two more players as per EFL registration rules. The signing of Scott Sinclair on a free transfer took them up to 20 senior players, with clubs in the third tier allowed 22. Talks remain ongoing with Sinclair to keep him at the Memorial Stadium, having only signed a six-month deal.

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As for who could depart the Memorial Stadium, Zain Westbrooke is tipped to leave after another campaign in which he has had limited playing time. Westbrooke played just 225 minutes, and has not played in the league since the opening-day defeat to Forest Green Rovers.

Alfie Kilgour, who is out of contract at the end of the season, may also depart after rumours earlier this year about interest from National League club Chesterfield. Despite playing with three centre-backs at times, Kilgour has only been a back-up option on most occasions and has not played since the start of October.

"For us, we do need to get a couple out, we do have a lot of bodies," Barton said. "You’ve got Zain Westbrooke there who needs minutes and needs to play. Alfie will be frustrated that he hasn’t gotten involved. Whelo (Glenn Whelan) will be alright because he’s got his coaching gig.

"You’ve got Harry Anderson to come back into the mix. I just think if I can’t guarantee lads games and minutes, for the sake of their career and their sanity, you have to go out and play.

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"It’s different if you’re competing for a jersey, there are a few lads you can see it in training, but no matter what they do, they can’t close the gap on the people who are in the team. For us, clearing that out before we add any more to it will be key.”

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