Scott Sinclair’s contract details revealed amid transfer interest in Bristol Rovers star

Bristol Rovers have began talks with Harry Anderson over extending his stay at the club, but there has been interest from other clubs over Scott Sinclair. Sinclair’s short-term deal is up this month and for the last few weeks, has been involved in discussions over signing a new contract.

The 33-year-old made an emotional return to the club where he started his career in October. Sinclair had trained with Chelsea and later Rovers, doing enough to persuade Barton to give him a chance.

The former Manchester City and Chelsea winger has played 14 times since signing, scoring three times, and has also set up one goal. He has started nine times and has played various roles.

He has proven his fitness to Barton and Rovers, which has also put other clubs on alert. Sinclair is free to speak to other clubs when his deal expires but the feeling from inside the camp is that he is committed.

First-team manager Joey Barton said: “He’s had a few sniffs but speaking to his agent and speaking to him directly, he’s settled and he understands what we are trying to do here.

“I think he knows he can be a big player for us and I think he is enjoying his football.”

When Sinclair joined, it was announced as a short-term deal, but the specific date was not mentioned. For the first time, Barton has revealed that Sinclair’s current deal runs until Monday, January 23.

Sinclair has four more games left on his existing deal with away matches at Cambridge United and Accrington Stanley, as well as home games against Plymouth Argyle and Wycombe Wanderers.

“We’re moving it on,” said Barton as to where the club are in their discussions over extending his deal.

“It doesn’t expire until the 23rd of January. It’s progressing nicely, I don’t think we are a million miles away but you are until it is signed."

The January transfer window is a point in time in which that out-of-contract can consider their next steps. Interested clubs may want to chance their luck at getting them at a cut price, whilst for the player dependent on their situation, they will want to seek assurances on whether they are part of the club’s long-term plans.

Several players see their deals at the Mem expire in the summer, with Josh Grant and Harry Anderson the most high-profile of possible departures. Barton has spoken previously of his desire to keep Grant at the club, despite his current status which has him sidelined after two injuries.

Anderson meanwhile joined Rovers last summer on a free transfer from Lincoln City and was a key member of last season’s promotion-winning squad. The 25-year-old has had injury problems this season and missed a spell between October and December, but positive talks have been held over him staying beyond the summer.

"We’ll speak to both of them," added Barton. "Josh is obviously coming back from a long-term injury. It is certainly something we will look to do to try and get him back on our team, you know how highly regarded he is by me.

"Harry, we are back and forth, we have already began conversations with him and his agent, that is clicking on and Scotty is the same.

"The lads who are on loan, you have to solidify them and don’t lose any of them because they have been key players for us. You have to get the jigsaw pieces added correctly and we only want quality at the moment, not quantity.