Portsmouth, Wrexham and others ‘monitoring’ out-of-contract Bristol Rovers star

Bristol Rovers could face a battle to keep one of their League Two promotion winning heroes.
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Bristol Rovers utility man Harry Anderson is reportedly subject of interest from several League One and League Two clubs as well as National League leaders Wrexham.

Anderson is into the final few months of the two-year contract he signed last season following a move from Lincoln City. Talks have been held with the 26-year-old about extending his stay since December, but so far the both the player and club have yet to agree on new terms.

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Football League website 'The Real EFL' which is led by freelance journalist Ryan Whelan makes the claim that Wrexham are one of ‘monitoring the situation’ with Anderson, along with their league rivals Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth, with Bradford City and Swindon Town both from League Two also linked.

Portsmouth’s interest would have stemmed from when Danny Cowley was in charge at Fratton Park. Cowley was Anderson’s manager at Lincoln City, but it remains to be seen whether Anderson would be on John Mousinho’s transfer shortlist for the summer.

Anderson, predominantly a left-sided winger, is currently out injured after undergoing surgery on his groin. It was a problem that affected him earlier in the season, ruling him out for several months. Joey Barton has admitted that Anderson will have to prove his fitness if he is to earn a new contract. The 40-year-old would like to keep him but will have to persuade the board and transfer recruitment staff also.

Speaking earlier this month, Barton said: “I really like Harry, I think he’s a great squad and team man, we had a conversation with him in and around Christmas. “He didn’t manage to get the signature on the contract and then subsequently he’s had a couple of injuries. We’re still speaking and talking to him, for me as a manager I’m really keen to keep Harry with the group and part of the squad.

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Barton added: “It will depend on how fit he can stay and how long he is going to be on the treatment table. For us, he’s had a bit of a disrupted season, and I think from Harry’s perspective, he wants a bit of stability, but obviously from the clubs perspective, we can’t sign players who are injured and keep getting injured.

“There’s a bit of a Mexican stand-off at the minute, we’re keen to keep Harry part of the group and I think he’s got a lot still to offer. We’re just working through that to see how that pans out in the next couple of weeks.”

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