3 bargain free transfers Bristol Rovers could consider ft Jamal Blackman | OneFootball

Bristol Rovers could look to free agents Connor Wickham, Stephen Humphrys and Jamal Blackman to help avert a crisis

Key Takeaways

As we near the end of the 2024 summer transfer window, it’s certainly been a busy one for Bristol Rovers.

At the time of writing, the Gas have signed 14 new players as well as assembled a new coaching staff. Rovers have almost doubled their record transfer fee paid from £300,000 to £500,000 - breaking it for the second time this year with the signing of Promise Omochere from Fleetwood Town.

Rovers aren’t expected to make too many more moves ahead of deadline day, with manager Matt Taylor feeling his squad is in a comfortable position. He told local media ahead of this weekend's game: "We’re in a position to be reactive, but we’re in a comfortable position".

There are areas, however, that the Gas will need to address, including in goal. Rovers have often utilised the free agent market to conduct their business, so FLW has taken a look at three players they may consider bringing in.

Jamal Blackman

It’s well documented that Bristol Rovers have had a tricky year or two in their goalkeeping department. The departure of former gas favourite James Belshaw precipitated a series of dilemmas for the Rovers management as they would tussle to find a permanent replacement for the former number one.

This campaign it's the turn of loanee Josh Griffiths, who has started strongly between the sticks, but the West Bromwich Albion loanee isn’t a permanent fix for the BS7 outfit.

The Gas appear to be grooming academy graduate Jed Ward for the future with the youngster currently on loan at National League side Forest Green Rovers and expected to return to challenge for the number one spot next season.

It's therefore currently left to Griffiths and his current stand-in Matt Hall to be their last line of defence. But Hall has had an uncertain start to his Bristol Rovers career and the Pirates need some reliable experience in that position should the worst-case scenario happen and Griffiths becomes injured, leaving Rovers with just one keeper.

The Gas will need to prevent a crisis and Jamal Blackman may be someone who could fill that role.

A name familiar to Gasheads, the 30-year-old was previously on loan at Rovers in 2020 after joining on loan from Chelsea in the January window of that year. He is currently available as a free agent, having left Burton Albion this summer.

Blackman has 13 clean sheets in League One from 52 appearances, conceding 78 times. The former Chelsea youngster has 43 clean sheets in total in the EFL from 152 appearances. He could be a player the Gas look at to ensure they have sufficient cover for their number one over the next couple of years.

Stephen Humphrys

The Gas may have been short of quality up front last season but that certainly can’t be said for this season. This summer, the Gas have signed Leyton Orient’s top goalscorer from last season, Ruel Sotiriou, and new club number nine in Omochere.

The two strikers join Chris Martin in the forward unit. It may not then be a position that the Gas are focussed too heavily on at this point but no doubt director of football George Friend will always be on the lookout for quality additions available in the market.

Humphrys is predominantly a centre-forward but is also capable of playing on and making goal contributions from both flanks.

With 43 goals and 16 assists across 182 appearances in League One, he possesses a reasonable record of return. Humphrys played 38 times for Wigan Athletic in League One last season, netting nine times.

Only 26, Humphrys is a player who could still improve and therefore could present a good investment opportunity for the Gas.

Connor Wickham

31-year-old Connor Wickham is a name that will be familiar to many. The former Sunderland, Ipswich Town, and Forest Green Rovers man is available as a free agent by way of Charlton Athletic, where he spent last season, playing only four times in the League towards the end of the campaign.

The former England Under-21 has versatility across the forward line. As well as more than 200 games in the Premier League and the Championship, Wickham has made 33 appearances in League One, scoring eight times.

The signing of Wickham would fit with the Rovers strategy of bringing players with experience of football higher up the pyramid to the Memorial Stadium.