Connor Taylor to Bristol Rovers transfer latest as Stoke City ‘medical done’

Bristol Rovers remain interested in Stoke City’s Connor Taylor, but will have to remain patient if they are to land him.

Taylor was a mainstay in Rovers’ 2021/22 League Twopromotion winning team and there is a desire to reunite with the 21-year-old. Joey Barton is on the search for reinforcements and a centre-back is on the list of priorities this summer if they are to mount a push for the play-offs in a wide-open League One.

Taylor, already well known to everyone at the Memorial Stadium and is highly thought of, is currently contracted to Stoke City, with his deal running out in 2025. It was hoped he’d become a first-team regular with the Potters, but a change in management from Michael O’Neil to Alex Neil has seen those plans changed.

A return to the Mem is not a straight forward process however and the BristolPost reported a fortnight ago that the Gas have competition from Plymouth Argyle for his signature. The Pilgrims have already signed Lewis Gibson who was a popular figure at Rovers last year, and signing Taylor would help them towards their goal of survival in their first season in the Championship.

Stoke meanwhile have been reluctant to let Taylor go because of the lack of options in that area, as Neil puts his own stamp down on the squad. In the last month however they’ve brought in defensive reinforcements in the form of; Enda Stevens, Michael Rose and Ki-Jana Hoever whilst they are said to be closing in on the signing of Luke McNally, who was at Coventry City last year.

Football Insider reports that McNally has ‘passed his medical’ and his arrival at the bet365 Stadium will come shortly. The signing of McNally, would give them a bit of depth in addition to already having Ben Wilmot on their books, and would surely keep Taylor low down the pecking order.

Rovers have money to spend, having made a push to sign Alfie May, who eventually signed for Charlton Athletic. They’ve managed to persuade two-time League One winner James Wilson to join them, along with Luke Thomas who was involved at play-off finalists Barnsley, and Jevani Brown who was one of the best performing players in the division last year.

According to another article from the Bristol Post too the club is currently involved in talks with a Kuwaiti investor, which would see them sell a majority stake. If all parties can agree, then it has been reported that ‘additional investment is expected for the playing squad’ and that would come into effect in the current transfer window.

Rovers are far from done when it comes to transfer business, despite signing seven new players, and the potential of more investment coming their way could see them afford their more ambitious targets, and see them eye a higher calibre of player than initially thought of. Taylor is a realistic target, and there would be a desire from his camp to return to Rovers, who hold ambitions of getting to the Championship, and he could be a major part of it.

In an ideal world, transfer business would be done before the start of the season, but there is still a month left of the window, and Rovers may have to be prepared to sit it out until the end of the month to see if Stoke will finally part with the highly rated defender. Good things come to those who wait, and hopefully they’ll be rewarded for their patience.