The January transfer window is open which naturally means the next couple of weeks will be full of speculation and rumours across the football stratosphere. However, as far as Bristol Rovers are concerned, it’s not expected to be an overly busy month.

On the back of the major squad overhaul last summer which saw 16 players arrive at Rovers, the club aren’t expected to make significant moves in the market. However, there is likely to be at least one new face or two over the coming weeks as George Friend and co. look to tweak the group of players Inigo Calderon has inherited.

The Rovers head coach hasn’t been in the job for two weeks yet and has had three games in quick succession to deal with but now that the busy festive period has concluded, there will be more time to ensure that he and the recruitment team are aligned in their views of what’s needed this month.

It is understood that the Spaniard will be given a significant say regarding transfer business this month whereas during the summer the message put out in the public domain was that the recruitment team were signing players for the club as opposed to the individual in the dugout. That also coincided with a number of contracts lasting three years while also including the option of a further year.

It appears as though Rovers have already identified where they would like to strengthen this month with the Gas still in an uncomfortable position, sitting only five points clear of the relegation zone. The immediate goal for the remainder of the campaign will be to get as far away from any threat of relegation as possible.

Here is the latest regarding the transfer state of play for Rovers this month, what could happen this month and what to potentially keep an eye out for…

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Where are Bristol Rovers looking to strengthen?

Let’s start off with the juicy stuff. Bristol Live understands that Bristol Rovers’ priority positions in the transfer market are at center back and central midfield, particularly considering that both Jake Garrett and Michael Forbes have returned to their parent clubs.

The duo earned just seven League One appearances each during underwhelming loan spells at Rovers with Garrett in particular evidently not fancied by Matt Taylor before the former Gas manager’s departure.

It appears as though Inigo Calderon’s preferred set up incorporates a back-four whereas Taylor often preferred to play with a trio of central defenders. Connor Taylor and James Wilson have emerged as the preferred pairing with Taylor Moore also getting a run at right-back lately but the only other natural option in central defence is Clinton Mola who has been known to be a left-back too.

Dan Ellison is obviously contracted to the club and has shone on loan at Aldershot Town but, at 19 years of age and with no Football League experience, the teenager isn’t going to prove to be the desired solution at this stage.

Considering the profiles of defenders Calderon has inherited and the initial glimpses of how he’ll want Rovers playing, a more mobile, ball-playing defender would be a shrewd acquisition that could compliment one of either Wilson or Taylor.

Regarding midfield, it is currently unclear whether the Gas will look to bring in a more defensive or offensive profile but, again, Rovers could do with another option comfortable playing out from deep.

Kamil Conteh should get back into the side once he’s available again after missing Calderon’s first three games in charge with a mysterious knock. In his absence Grant Ward has seemed to play more of that deeper role against both Leyton Orient and Cambridge with Isaac Hutchinson and then Jamie Lindsay starting alongside him, evidently impressing the new boss.

Names in both positions have already started being linked elsewhere with Cardiff City talent Joel Colwill, who’s currently shining on loan at Cheltenham Town, someone Bristol Live understands to be subject to interest from Rovers amongst a host of other clubs.

Whether the Gas end up pursuing deals that are permanent or on loan is yet to be seen but the expectation is that they will be prepared for both possibilities.

Striker latest amid Promise Omochere injury

Initially it didn’t look as though Bristol Rovers were in the market for a striker until Promise Omochere picked up a hamstring injury that is likely to keep the Irishman out of action until April with it not impossible that the 24-year-old doesn’t play again this season.

It’s a major blow for both the club and the player. The former invested a club-record fee for the striker over the summer while Omochere was starting to look the best he has done in a Rovers shirt so far having only just returned from a separate issue that kept him out for nearly two months.

Now, it is possible that the Gas will enter the market for a striker this month but at this moment in time it would seem that a loan deal would be more likely than a permanent acquisition.

Goalscorers are naturally the most expensive players out there and in January everyone’s price tag gets inflated further. Meanwhile, Rovers didn’t invest in Omochere solely for this season. The Irishman has another two years on his current contract after this term plus the option of one more on top of that. They could just do with filling the temporary void his absence will leave over the coming months.

Thankfully, Chris Martin has appeared to hit form at long last with two goals against Leyton Orient followed by an effective center-forward display at Cambridge United. Meanwhile, the Gas also have Gatlin O’Donkor, Shaq Forde and Ruel Sotiriou in their ranks who can all lead the line if called upon. It’s just their respective goal tallies that are currently a concern.

Since Calderon’s arrival at Rovers, fans have queried online whether the Gas could benefit from the Spaniard’s links to Brighton and acquire a Seagulls prospect on loan. Perhaps the south coast outfit could lend a forward?

Either way, bringing in a striker of any ilk this month and one that can contribute to Rovers’ weak goals tally to date will be complicated.

Previously possible departures less likely

This time a month ago, there were concerns that a couple of players could depart the club this month.

Jack Hunt was allowed to exit permanently in the summer but a move never materialised and therefore it was thought that, should interest from elsewhere arise, the right-back could leave this month six months before his contract is due to expire.

Meanwhile, Luke Thomas wasn’t getting any sort of look-in under Matt Taylor and you wondered whether he would be the next big name to be sold after Antony Evans in the summer and Aaron Collins last January.

However, Bristol Live understands that both players are now much more likely to stay following Inigo Calderon’s arrival.

Hunt is expected to be back on the pitch at some point this month having missed two months of action with a calf tear while Thomas has been brought back in from the dark since Taylor’s departure.

The winger played over 60 minutes against Wrexham, in which he registered the assist for Promise Omochere’s equaliser, before starting against Exeter City while Dave Horseman was in interim charge. Since Calderon’s arrival, Thomas has started twice and got his first goal of the season last time out against Cambridge United.

When it comes to other potential departures, it will have to be seen what sort of business Rovers conduct over the coming weeks alongside what, if any, levels of interest emerge, but the Gas can’t afford to sanction many more exits after losing Jake Garrett and Michael Forbes already.

Loanees state of play

There is currently limited clarity on whether or not Bristol Rovers plan to recall any of their players out on loan to play a part in their own endeavours for the remainder of the campaign. However, it appears as though all are getting valuable minutes…the younger players at least.

Jed Ward (Forest Green Rovers), Kofi Shaw (Yeovil Town) and Dan Ellison (Aldershot Town) are all impressing in the National League while Jerry Lawrence and Micah Anthony are currently at Bath City in the National League South.

Elsewhere, Jevani Brown is struggling for minutes at League Two high-fliers Notts County but still appears to have no future at Rovers at this moment in time after effectively being exiled by Matt Taylor during pre-season with his contract set to expire this summer.

The plan for Ward was always to complete a full season at the early National League title favourites barring a situation at the Gas arising that meant he was required to come back into the side at his parent club. Unless Josh Griffiths is recalled by West Brom or picks up a serious injury, both of which seem unlikely at this moment in time, the young goalkeeper should remain where he is.

Meanwhile, the 21-year-old ended up being scored past by his Rovers teammate Shaw last week who, despite looking bright in bursts when given first-team opportunities earlier this season, needs regular minutes. Additionally, bringing him back into a potential relegation scrap could prove detrimental to his development.

The 17-year-old signed a loan deal until January back in October and it is still unclear whether that will be extended but the Glovers seem to be a good option for the teenage forward at this point in his development.

It’s a similar scenario for Ellison, whose loan spell at Aldershot has already been extended since arriving at the Shots. The young defender is seemingly coping at National League level, a division higher than he played in last season for Chippenham Town, but the jump up to League One would be extremely significant.

16-year-old Ollie Dewsbury also deserves a mention with the teenage striker impressing at Yate Town. Whether Rovers’ second-youngest player ever will return to go out on loan at a higher level is yet to be seen but it seems extremely unlikely that he’ll have any first-team involvement between now and the remainder of the campaign.

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