The free agent strikers from League One yet to sign for new clubs - including players from Derby, Ipswich, Portsmouth and Sheffield Wednesday
There are strike partnerships just waiting to be assembled as some League One strikers become of interest to Bristol Rovers
As teams continue their pre-seasons, the 2022/23 League One season is just a few weeks away.
Some clubs have already played their first few fixtures to help them prepare for the 46-game slog that lies in front of them, and that’s just the league games.
There is still a whole two months to go until the summer transfer window shuts and whilst the core of most squads have been assembled, some players are still unsure about where their futures lie.
Bristol Rovers have used the free agent market in recent years and brought in James Gibbons from Port Vale after his contract expired there.
Joey Barton says that his team are still five or six signings from where they want to be and there are still some gaps to be filled in. James Norwood, released from Ipswich Town is a reported target.
There are also some players from some of the league favourites in Derby County, Ipswich Town, Portsmouth and Sheffield Wednesday, who have been busy themselves and allowed players to leave.
The departures of Brett Pitman and Leon Clarke leave them with three recognised strikers in Aaron Collins, Harvey Saunders and Ryan Loft. Loft standing at six foot two can be considered the only out-and-out striker, whilst Collins is a bit more of the Roberto Firmino mould.
Whilst the team go through some drills in a week away in Portugal, Barton’s recruitment team will be hard at work to identify targets.
There is a mixed bag of players on offer but the preference would probably be a tall target man in the mould of perhaps Loft with a bit more experience.
Some have plenty of suitors lined up for them, whilst others will need their agents to sell them to some prospective clubs. All free agent strikers are listed below - would any of these be of a good fit at the Memorial Stadium?
There is still a whole two months to go until the summer transfer window shuts and whilst the core of most squads have been assembled, some players are still unsure about where their futures lie.
5. Nathan Delfouneso
Delfouneso had a lot of promise about him when he burst onto the scene for Aston Villa and had a few cameo appearances here and there. His best campaign though was back in 2018, scoring nine goals in 40 games. Not prolific by any means but’s a respectable reutrn as Rovers look for strikers who can hold their own at that level. Played 11 times for Bolton last year in the league but didn’t find the net. Photo: Charlotte Tattersall/Getty Images
6. Connor Wickham
Bursting on to the scene with Ipswich Town, there was a lot of hype about Wickham but injuries have blighted what could have been a good career. A few seasons with Sunderland and Crystal Palace in the Premier League have made him an upper half Championship kind of striker, but not once has he reached double figures in his career. He was released by MK Dons last year after one goal in 13 matches. He’s currently on trial at Reading so there’s a lot of work to be done if Rovers wanted to make a move. Photo: Pete Norton/Getty Images
7. Will Grigg
Will Grigg’s on fire? Or is he, after a tough few years at Sunderland, his three-and-a-half years came to an end, mainly spent at MK Dons and Rotherham United. Not since 2018 has Grigg reached double figures, scoring 19 goals in 43 matches as he helped Wigan to the title. He also bagged 25 in 2016 and 20 for the Dons in 2015, so he knows where the net is. He’s come from a side that were able to offer big wages so persuading him to join will be a tough ask. Grigg is currently training with the Dons and could return for a third spell. Photo: James Chance/Getty Images
8. Sam Winnall
Sam Winnall has mainly played either in the Championship or in League One, but had his best season in League Two, scoring 23 goals for Scunthorpe in 2014. 21 goals in 43 games in 2016, helping Barnsley to promotion is his other best campaign but since then, he’s chipped in with goals for the Tykes, Sheffield Wednesday, Derby and for the past two years Oxford United. Winnall is tall in stature and has four seasons of third tier football under his belt so he knows what the division is all about. Photo: James Chance/Getty Images