Cheltenham Town transfer race heats up as Bristol Rovers join Charlton, Derby County, Gillingham and Wrexham

Bristol Rovers are the latest club to show an interest in buying Alfie May from Cheltenham Town, a report suggests.

The 30-year-old is in demand, with both League One and ambitious League Two clubs keen to bring May to their respective clubs, and now the Gas have joined the race. GloucestershireLive report that Rovers have entered the race to sign May, who is being tipped to leave Whaddon Road.

May is in contract with the Robins until the summer of 2024, but it is widely assumed that he will depart before the start of the 2023/24 season, with Cheltenham kicking off against Shrewsbury Town. He has returned back for pre-season, but there is a hope that this long transfer saga can be sorted shortly.

May has scored 43 goals in 85 appearances for Cheltenham in League One over the last two seasons, despite finishing below mid-table, and now teams who hold promotion ambitions want to add him to their squad to help them with their prospective goal.

Last week it was reported that Gillingham were the clear favourites to sign May, and that a bid of £200,000 was submitted. The Gills tried to sign him in January but were unsuccessful in their attempt, but have maintained their interest in to the summer.

Commenting on the speculation to KentOnline, manager Neil Harris said: “I have been asked about that from every person I have seen in the street, the fella at the petrol station who got out of the car wash and the woman who asked me about it while I was having a coffee at Costa!

“I have to be respectful to the situation that the player is attached to a club.

“It is a player we are very fond of, with his roots (in Kent) as well, but I have said all along, there is loads of work that goes into a transfer of the magnitude of trying to buy somebody but again it is very open ended at the moment, that is about as much as I can say.”

“Alfie is Cheltenham’s player and involves quite a large transfer fee and although he is a player we are interested in it is a long-shot to get him, we will have to be realistic as well.

“Would Alfie May be a quality addition to any League 2 team? Hell yeah! Without a shadow of a doubt.

“We can only go for the best players we feel we can attract and the best players that we feel can improve us and add to the group that we have already and we will continue to do that.”

Meanwhile Charlton Athletic boss Dean Holden was also quizzed on the Addicks pursuit of May, but he refused to be drawn in to the speculation, unlike Harris who gave a detailed answer.

“I can’t talk about these players – it’s disrespectful,” said Holden to the South London Press.

“I’d hate to come away from here and see other managers have spoken about one of our players. I think that’s disrespectful. It’s the wrong thing to do. It just adds to the hype. We’re working very diligently and quietly in the background.”