Inigo Calderon has confessed that Aston Villa defender Sil Swinkels is "on the list" of Bristol Rovers' transfer targets after reports linking the 21-year-old with a loan move to BS7 while Villa manager Unai Emery has also admitted that a temporary departure could be a possibility.

It was first reported by The Athletic on Friday that Swinkels is "set" to join Rovers on loan for the remainder of the season with Bristol Live understanding that a move is close, although it's currently looking unlikely to be completed before the Gas' League One clash at home to Peterborough United on Sunday.

Asked about links to Swinkels ahead of this weekend's game against Peterborough, Calderon admitted: "He’s on the list because, as I say, we are out of players. We’ve been, I mean the amount of players I’ve been watching the last weeks has been crazy with George [Friend] and the recruitment team. So we are looking at the players. He’s one of the ones that has been on the table, yes. But, as I said, we have to think is that the right option or not."

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The Dutch defender, who joined Villa in 2020, has made one senior appearance for the Premier League side, making his debut in a Carabao Cup victory over Wycombe Wanderers earlier this season.

Swinkels has also been on the bench four times in the top-flight this term as well as for six of Villa's eight Champions League matches to date, including Wednesday night's 4-2 win over Celtic at Villa Park.

If completed, the 21-year-old would become the third Villa player to join Rovers on loan in recent seasons with Lino Sousa currently at the club while Lamare Bogarde had two half-season stints in north Bristol.

The two clubs have built up a decent relationship in recent years with Villa signing academy products Kyrie Pierre and Bradley Burrowes back in 2021.

Following reports linking Swinkels to Rovers, Emery was also asked for the latest information on the defender ahead of the Villans' West Midlands Derby at Wolves on Saturday night.

The Spaniard said: "Sil is training with us but we are thinking to let him leave on loan. I think he needs more experience, getting minutes, to be ready to play with us."

Rovers have signed two players so far in midfielders Romaine Sawyers, on a deal until the end of the season, and Matt Butcher, on loan from Wycombe . However, it is understood that adding a centre-back has been a priority for the entire window while the Gas are also hopeful of adding an attacker too.

The January transfer window is set to close at 11pm GMT on Monday night (February 3).

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