Sheffield Wednesday are one of the clubs whose scouts have shown a sustained presence at Bristol Rovers matches this season, according to Bristol Live.
And newspaper claims that Jonson Clarke-Harris is the specific focus of the Owls’ attention – as well as that of Reading, Middlesbrough and Hull City.
Clarke-Harris has scored 21 goals in 33 games since being brought to Bristol Rovers at the start of the year by the former Wednesday defender Graham Coughlan, who quit to take charge of Mansfield Town on Tuesday.
And at with 18 months left on his contract, it would not be a surprise to see Championship clubs come calling for the 25-year-old in January.
Speaking after Coughlan’s departure, the Rovers CEO Martyn Starnes told Bristol Live: “Every player has a value so if an offer came in for Jonson Clarke-Harris or anybody else in the club we would have to consider what’s in the best interest of the club.”
The recently-departed Bristol Rovers manager Graham Coughlan. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
But the newspaper insists that no bids have yet been made for Clarke-Harris, adding that Hull were unwilling to spend more than £450,000 on the player following an enquiry.
And that figure, it is claimed, is considerably below the League One side’s valuation.
Clarke-Harris is the latest centre-forward to be linked with a move to Sheffield Wednesday ahead of the winter window, after Lyle Taylor and Rhian Brewster.
The Owls have found Steven Fletcher in fine form this season, while Atdhe Nuhiu and, more recently, Jordan Rhodes have made important contributions.
Should Clarke-Harris return to South Yorkshire with Wednesday – having previously represented Rotherham United and Doncaster Rovers – it would cast further doubt on the futures of another two Hillsborough front men, Sam Winnall and Fernando Forestieri.
