Bristol Rovers mooted as one of three clubs interested in Scunthorpe United top scorer

Scunthorpe United striker Ryan Loft is reportedly of interest to Bristol Rovers in their search for a striker.

The Gas are in the market for a forward as per the words of Joey Barton and now a name from the same division as them could be the answer.

Loft, is subject of interest of three clubs in League Two with one confirmed to be Colchester United.

The 24-year-old has scored six goals in 18 appearances in all competitions this season, making him Scunthorpe’s joint top scorer.

His form has attracted the eye of Colchester United who according to Football League World are happy to part with £50,000 to secure the services of the front-man.

Before Scunthorpe’s 1-0 home defeat to Carlisle United this afternoon, their chairman Peter Swann discussed their transfer plans for the next month with Loft

Appearing on BBC Humberside Sport, he said: ‘Lofty is out of contract, he’s a striker. It’s going to be difficult for us to offer the money he wants in the summer.

“As a football club we have to make a decision. If we get offers in for him we have to look at those.

“We’ve talked to Ryan and at the minute he’s still our player. We just take it each day as it is with him. There are certainly two other clubs interested in him as well, in the end it will be down to the player.

“If he wants to stay and we would love him to stay anyway then great it benefits the club. If we get nothing for him in the summer then we have to make a business decision but we won’t go unless we have got someone to replace him.”

With his contract up at the end of the season, there could be a big decision for Keith Hill and his board to make at the end of the season.

They can either keep a player who could help preserve their Football League status or cash in on what could be a potential transfer tug-of-war for their player.

All three clubs have submitted offers to the Irons, however the feeling is that he will not be allowed to leave Glanford Park unless a replacement is found.

They themselves have been in the market for a forward and should a deal be confirmed then it would speed up the transfer merry-go-round.

Asked whether there is money on the table from all three clubs, their chairman replied: “Yes there is money on the table.

“I think any money is tempting these days as he walks free in the summer. As a board we’ll sit down, weigh up the offer and if it’s good for the football club we will take it.

“I think we need a replacement absolutely. If that doesn’t come then we can’t then can we find a striker he stays.”

To add fuel to the fire, former Scunthorpe manager Russell Wilcox was appearing as a commentator for the BBC’s coverage and said that one of the clubs could be Bristol Rovers.

Wilcox was previously the clubs Under-23’s manager and even managed them on a caretaker basis so his claims would have some substance given his years of service.

Loft hails from Gravesend so could favour a move back down South where he has played for the majority of his career. He began in the non-league at Dartford and Ebsfleet United before moving on to Tottenham Hotspur. He was loaned to Braintree and later Stevenage before a brief loan at Exeter City.

Loft wasn’t kept on by the North London club and was picked up by Leicester City though he didn’t make a senior appearance there and instead spent time on loan at Carlisle United. Loft netted four times in a truncated 2019/20 season.

He was signed up by Scunthorpe United on a two-year deal and last year netted nine times across 43 matches.