Transfer Gossip: Bristol Rovers handed boost in reported pursuit of former Watford defender

Bristol Rovers’ reported interest in Celtic defender Bosun Lawal has received a boost.

The Gas were linked with the promising 20-year-old last week, with Football Insider claiming Joey Barton was in a battle with Portsmouth’s John Mousinho over a potential loan move for the centre-back.

However, Barton’s supposed rival for Lawal’s signature has since shot down the report, leaving Rovers ideally placed to capitalise - if the link proves correct.

The Memorial Stadium outfit have already signed centre-half James Wilson from Plymouth on a free transfer.Meanwhile, the defence has been further added to this summer with the arrival of experienced campaigner George Friend.

It remains to be seen what other Rovers business will be done before the transfer window closes on September 1.

In the meantime, though, Portsmouth have confirmed they hold no interest in former Watford defender Lawal.

Mousinho told The News: ‘There’s nothing in that, I don’t know where it has come from.

‘We don’t need any more centre-halves, we have five and Connor (Ogilvie) can cover as well, so we are absolutely fine.

‘Bosun is a really good young player, but I genuinely don’t know where that has come from.’