Bristol Rovers news: Jonson Clarke-Harris transfer boost as Peterborough United warning sent

Bristol Rovers have received both a boost and a warning in their rumoured pursuit of Peterborough United striker Jonson Clarke-Harris.

The 29-year-old is said to be on the Gas' radar ahead of Friday's transfer deadline, with a player of his calibre seen as the final piece of the jigsaw. Rovers are in the market for a striker with Joey Barton making an admission on Saturday that he believed that Clarke-Harris was keen to move towards the direction of Bristol.

As Barton admitted publicly about the pursuit of the forward, Clarke-Harris was on the score sheet for the Posh last Saturday in their 4-2 defeat to Derby County. He has been transfer listed by the club, but has so far not found a suitor for his services.

Now things are beginning to heat up, with Darragh MacAnthony admitting earlier this month that three clubs are in the race for him. It has been revealed by Peterborough Today however that one of those clubs Bolton Wanderers, are unlikely to sign him. It's been reported that Bolton had the opportunity to bid for him earlier this summer and didn't take up the offer amid concerns he wouldn't fit into their system.

Bolton had been under the threat of losing Dion Charles, with both Stoke City and Watford said to have had an interest, but he signed a new three-year contract with the Trotters on Sunday. His new contract offers him and the club security, but means that they are unlikely to make a move now for Clarke-Harris, given they’ve kept hold of one of their star players.

Peterborough are keen to recoup the £1m they paid for the forward from Rovers back in the summer of 2019, and that would mean for Rovers to be successful in their pursuit, they would need to make him their club record transfer fee. It’s been 31-years since the Gas paid a reported £390,000 to Queens Park Rangers for Andy Tillson, who remains their record signing.

Rovers have officially until Friday to finalise a move for Clarke-Harris or any forward, but they along with other suits have been told what will be needed for the Posh to part with the two-time League One Golden Boot winner.

‘There are three clubs interested in ‘Jonno,’ said Darragh MacAnthony last week in his Hard Truths podcast, which was later transcribed by the Peterborough Telegraph.

‘I expect they will try and take the mickey for the first three days of next week, but if they don’t come up with what we want I’ll tell them to **** off and ‘Jonno’ will stay with us.’