Bristol Rovers transfer target released by Championship club - League One rival interested

Bristol Rovers transfer target Tyler Walker has been released by Coventry City - and is attracting interest from several League One clubs.

Walker was linked with a move to the Memorial Stadium last May, but he remained at the Sky Blues. Sunday Mirror Sports editor Darren Witcoop made the claim last year that Rovers had been interested, and now a year on Walker is free to discuss his next move.

Welsh journalist Witcoop claimed on his Twitter that Walker is ‘not short of interest’ and Port Vale are amongst those tracking him, but fear they could be unable to compete financially with their rivals to sign the striker. His wages didn’t ‘come cheap’ at Coventry, according to the reporter last year, and having featured for a Championship team this season could command high-end wages for the third tier.

The 26-year-old made 19 appearances for Mark Robin’s side and scored one goal. He was mainly a substitute and came off the bench 15 times, playing second fiddle to Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres.

Walker is the son of former Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday defender Des, and is proven at League One level. He got 14 goals for Lincoln City in 29 matches for the 2019/19 season, having got 22 goals in 44 games in League Two for Mansfield Town in the previous season. To date, Walker has scored 70 goals and got 15 assists in 246 career matches.

He was one of seven players released by Coventry following their play-off defeat to Luton Town on Saturday. Fankaty Dabo missed the decisive penalty and has since been let go by the club, along with Julien Dacosta, Todd Kane, Sean Maguire, Michael Rose, and Martyn Waghorn.

As for Rovers' attacking options, they have Ryan Loft and Josh Marquis as out-and-out recognised strikers. Aaron Collins - who scored 16 goals this season, is also considered as a secondary striker, but has mainly played as a left-sided forward. Rovers did offer youngster Harvey Greenslade a new contract, and are awaiting his decision. Greenslade spent last season out on loan at Chippenham Town and Truro City.