Exclusive: Wycombe Wanderers enter transfer talks for Bristol Rovers star after exit stance emerges | OneFootball

Wycombe Wanderers are in talks over a deal for wantaway Bristol Rovers star Connor Taylor, Football League World understands

Wycombe Wanderers have entered negotiations with Bristol Rovers over a move for Connor Taylor as the defender looks to depart the Memorial Stadium this month, sources have exclusively revealed to Football League World.

The Pirates will be desperate to return to League One at the first attempt under the tutelage of popular boss Darrell Clarke, who sealed a return to BS7 earlier this summer after the club's relegation to League Two and Inigo Calderon's subsequent departure.

For Rovers, it has been a busy transfer window at both ends. The likes of Fabrizio Cavegn, Ellis Harrison, Ryan Howley, Alfie Kilgour, Josh McEachran, Macauley Southam-Hales and Luke Southwood have all arrived in eye-catching deals for Clarke's side, while a raft of senior players left at the end of their contracts back in June and the recent departure of highly-rated midfield prodigy Kofi Shaw to Brighton and Hove Albion marked an undoubted blow for Rovers heading into their season-opener at home to Harrogate Town on Saturday afternoon.

Rovers, of course, suffered a frustrating 1-0 defeat to the Sulphurites, with Taylor absent from the matchday squad as he edges closer to sealing a move away before the end of the month.

Wycombe Wanderers enter talks with Bristol Rovers over Connor Taylor

Following yesterday's defeat to Harrogate, Clarke confirmed that Taylor was left out of the squad due to his desire to leave Bristol Rovers.

Indeed, Clarke revealed that Taylor, who also missed Rovers' final pre-season fixture away to Oxford United the previous weekend despite being involved in every other friendly, has been the subject of three to four bids from other clubs, prompting the talented defender to hand in a transfer request as he bids to earn a move out of League Two.

FLW can now reveal that one of the clubs interested in prizing Taylor away is Wycombe, who made it to the League One play-off semi-finals last season before being knocked out by Charlton Athletic.

Sources close to FLW have disclosed that Wycombe are in talks with the Gas over a move for Taylor, though with Clarke's reveal in mind, it appears as though the Chairboys will be facing no shortage of competition in their efforts to get a deal over the line in the coming days and weeks.

Nonetheless, whether it's Wycombe or elsewhere, Taylor now looks set to leave Rovers following two years of permanent service, having returned to the club in the summer of 2023 from Stoke City in a reported £300,000 deal after enjoying a memorable loan spell in the 2021/22 campaign as the side gained promotion from League Two.

Taylor caught the eye last term in spite of Rovers' relegation to the fourth-tier, as he made 42 impressive appearances and won the club's Player of the Season award.

Bristol Rovers can net strong fee for Connor Taylor amid Wycombe Wanderers interest

As Wycombe and others continue to circle, Bristol Rovers will be aiming to collect a handsome fee for Taylor's signature.

The 23-year-old's age and resale value potential, coupled with years of existing experience at League One level and the fact he effectively has two years still to run on his contract at the Memorial Stadium after signing a three-year contract with a further one-year club extension option to return two summers ago, means that Rovers have a strong bargaining position and can negotiate an exit on their terms, even if they will have wanted to keep hold of him.

He's a valuable asset who was always going to make a profit on the club's outlay, and while Rovers will have undoubtedly had designs of retaining him for the long-term, they're still in line for a decent windfall should he seal an expected move back to League One in the near future.