Former Bristol Rovers target wanted by Charlton as Portsmouth eye move for Championship defender after defeat at Memorial Stadium

The transfer window is just days away and it’s clear clubs are beginning to position themselves ahead of the January sales.

It will be interesting to see who new Bristol Rovers boss Matt Taylor turns to in order to bolster the Gas' League One hopes over the second half of the season

In the meantime, here’s the latest from around the grounds as third-tier sides look to boost their options or gear up to losing key players in the new year.

Charlton keen on striker who nearly moved to Rovers

Charlton have reportedly spoken to Peterborough United about striker Jonson Clarke-Harris ahead of the January transfer window. The Addicks are supposedly keen to lighten the goalscoring load on top-scorer Alfie May, who has 19 goals in all competitions this season, and have identified the Posh front man as someone who can bolster their fire-power.

Clarke-Harris came close to rejoining Bristol Rovers in the summer, only for the deal to collapse at the last minute. Charlton were also keen on the forward, who boasts 82 goals in 170 league appearances for Peterborough, back then. He remains available to leave London Road, despite eight goals in all competitions this season – and Addicks boss Michael Appleton has been exploring the possibility of bringing the former Coventry and Rotherham ace to The Valley.

The Posh paid Rovers £1.2m for the forward in 2020. They were handsomely rewarded as Clarke-Harris consistently found the back of the net for the current League One title-challengers. But with boss Darren Ferguson keen to lower the age of this squad and put faith in up-and-coming talent, the striker is deemed surplus to requirements. Clarke-Harris’ contract is up at the end of the season, which gives Peterborough extra motivation to cash in on the player, who has remained on the bench for their past five league games.. As well as Charlton, League Two Wrexham and clubs from abroad are reportedly keen.

Championship interest in Derby winger

Derby County risk losing Nathaniel Mendez-Laing next month.

According to the BBC’s Alex Howell, Championship clubs Birmingham, Huddersfield and Hull are all monitoring the 31-year-old’s progress with the Rams and are weighing up January moves for a player who is out of contract at the end of the season.

Derby would loathe to lose a player who is central to their current promotion push. The much-travelled wide man has started 21 of the Rams' 22 League One games this season and boasts six goals and 10 assists so far this term - including the winner against the Gas at Pride Park on November 25. But with the potential to lose the player for nothing in the summer, Paul Warne might have to decide to cash in on the winger now.

The Rams have won five of their past six league games to move to within two points of the automatic promotion places. They are currently six places and 12 points better off than Rovers.

Taylor's side welcome Derby to the Mem on Saturday, March 9,

Pompey want Championship defender

Pompey - who lost 2-1 to Rovers on Boxing Day - have reportedly re-opened their longstanding interest in defender George Edmundson.

According to the BBC’s Chris Wise, the current League One leaders are interested in a move for the Ipswich centre-half ahead of the January transfer window. The 26-year-old is supposedly one of several options the League One leaders are looking at as they attempt to fill the void left by Regan Poole’s season-ending ACL injury. However, Wise claims Pompey’s strong interest in Edmundson has led them to make enquiries over the former Rangers player’s availability.

Rovers beat Pompey 2-1 thanks to goals from Antony Evans and Luke Thomas.