Bristol Rovers transfer state of play as Joey Barton sends message to Premier League clubs

Joey Barton says the Bristol Rovers training ground will be like the Wolf of Wall Street as the club eyes some late business.

Wolf of Wall Street, a book that was later adapted into a film in which Oscar winning actor Leonardo di Caprio and Jonah Hill featured in, work tirelessly in an office setting to conclude deals.

Barton and his trusted transfer recruitment specialist Eddy Jennings could reprise the roles of Jordan Belfort and Donnie Azoff as they work around the clock to get a deal done.

In the midst of transfer deadline day, the 39-year-old revealed his plans for the remaining hours of the window with at least two more signings wanted.

Sylvester Jasper, Josh Coburn and Bobby Thomas have all arrived on season-long loan deals, but there is still time and resources available to manufacture more transfers.

The Gas are in competition with another club for a player that they had thought they had signed in a deal that could go down to the whire.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference for Morecambe, he said: “Seven hours is a long time in the window. The last hour will be a long time but when you’re a little but under the weather and hoping to be in bed relatively early tonight.

“I think I’m going to be in the dying embers just trying to make sure we get as much value out of the market as we possibly can.

“Wael has been superb he has supported us at every junction and now we’re just hoping for the market to flush out to see what exciting things come out in the next six to seven hours.

“We are down the track with one, we thought we were right down the track with one this morning but somebody else came to the table, we’re still exploring that.

“A weird and wonderful final day and I’m going to go home and get my yellow tie on, sit on my couch and watch Jim White bring the window home. That’s gone out of my options, it looks like we’ll be in these offices scrapping working the phones like Wolf of Wall Street to get some new business.”

As to where Rovers could strengthen, a player in the defensive area, specifically in the left-back area is in there plan of action.

Lewis Gordon, signed after leaving Brentford and rejecting Crystal Palace, is their only senior option for the time being after James Gibbons sustained an injury that has him out for at least the next two months.

An injury to James Connolly has seen Thomas brought in as cover to support Alfie Kilgour and Lewis Gibson.

As to where they are on transfers, Barton said: “Hopefully we will have another couple at some point, we just keep pushing and see what we can get.

“For us it’s a case of not running before we can walk as I found out yesterday. We thought we had stuff nearly done and all of a sudden someone has a change of heart. They aren’t in the building until the paper is signed.

“We’re still not done in that space, if I can do something else in that kind of defensive space I think I will. If we can do something else on the front line and the wide areas I think we will.”

There is room for one more season-long loan move for Rovers following the signing of Gibson from Everton earlier in the window and the three deadline day signings.

Gibson and Sylvester Jasper have come from Premier League clubs, whilst Josh Coburn and Bobby Thomas have come from Middlesbrough and Burnley respectively.

Earlier in the window, Barton has made calls to top-flight clubs to allow him to take their young talents to the Mem, having shown that Rovers can be the perfect place for players trying to make it in the game.

Elliot Anderson came off the bench for Newcastle United at Anfield against Liverpool on Wednesday evening, following a more than successful six-month spell in the West Country.

Premier League clubs however, despite being presented with an obvious pathway for their players to develop have instead chosen to keep their players, something which Barton is against, but has to accept.

Barton said: “The apex lads at the top, you’ve seen Ross Barkley get paid up to £200k a week at Chelsea, it’s mind boggling. When they stockpile players which they do right throughout all age groups, the market forces dictate.

“There have been five or six Premier League clubs we have been asking for 18, 19-year-olds from. Look at what we have done with all the young players we have had. They say ‘they’re not coming out until January because we need to fulfil our EFL Trophy commitments and a good start in the Premier League 2 campaign.

He added: “They need to be out playing football but they protect asset values and if that is their business model there is nothing we can do about it. We’re ending up with an inferior product, players are getting worse and the game isn’t evolving.

“The standard of football on a whole is dipping and the reason it is dipping is because all of the talent is being stockpiled and not giving opportunities at the right time.”