Bristol Rovers top target ‘wants out’ as AFC Wimbledon play hard ball

Bristol Rovers have stepped up their interest in reuniting with midfielder Luke McCormick but AFC Wimbledon are standing firm in negotiations.

Joey Barton has spoken of the desire to get seven new players in by the end of the transfer window with McCormick fitting the bill as one of the areas Rovers need to strengthen.

Since both Elliot Anderson and Luke Thomas have returned to Newcastle United and Barnsley respectively, there has been a lack of attack-minded midfielders.

McCormick’s 13 goals and nine assists in 84 appearances for three clubs at this level is something Rovers could do to add to a new-look squad to the one he would have played in two seasons ago.

The Gas have had reported interest in McCormick since June but so far it has remained at just that with a move not looking imminent during the summer.

Alan Nixon published on his Patreon page that Rovers were moving closer to reuniting with the former Chelsea midfielder, who was the shining light in what was an ill-fated campaign in 2020/21.

The latest development however comes from Richard Cawley, a journalist for the South London Press, who says bids have been made to bring him back to the Memorial Stadium.

He says that McCormick wants out of the London club but that bids have been made for him, presumably from Rovers, but none are yet to meet their desired valuation.

McCormick was absent in the Dons’ opening day fixture with Gillingham with Cawley stating on Friday that the player was not injured.

Wimbledon themselves however said last week that McCormick suffered a training ground injury, though it wasn’t thought to be serious.

It is by the SLP that once relegation to the fourth tier was confirmed, the player was keen to move on given his career has only been spent in League One.

Wimbledon have already lost Jack Rudoni, who joined Huddersfield Town, despite being an initial target of Bristol City.

He joined for a club-record fee which has allowed the London outfit to reinvest it into the squad but losing McCormick, a player of a similar position could leave a considerable gap in their midfield.

A sticking point in the negotiations is that Chelsea inputted clauses when they let McCormick leave Stamford Bridge, which means they would stand to recoup a part of any fee Rovers change.

This leaves Wimbledon needing a satisfactory offer to fully entertain the idea of parting with one of their most creative players.