Bristol Rovers are bracing for a flurry of transfer activity this week, assistant manager Paul Raynor confirmed after the Gas secured a 3‑0 pre‑season victory over Weston‑super‑Mare on Thursday. He warned that “movement in the next few days” is likely as the club balances eight fresh arrivals with a shortlist of players set to leave.

Which players are on the exit list?

Raynor listed seven squad members who were made available for loan or permanent deals after the 2025/26 season ended. Four of those – goalkeeper Luke Southwood, defender Taylor Moore, midfielder Josh McEachran and forward Kamil Conteh – were absent from Tuesday’s training session, suggesting their departures are near. The club has already said Tom Lockyer, Luke Thomas and Joel Senior left in May, and a deal for Conteh has reportedly been agreed.

How does this fit with Rovers’ summer recruitment?

The Gas have already added eight signings: Richie Smallwood, Kofi Balmer, Ben Purrington, Tommy Leigh, Tom James, Ciarán Kelly, Bobby Kamwa and Jack Aitchison. Raynor stressed that the timing of any further arrivals may hinge on who exits first. “We’ve got to concentrate on the guys we feel are staying throughout the season,” he said, hinting that the club’s transfer strategy is still being fine‑tuned.

What does the upcoming pre‑season schedule hold?

Rovers travel to Salisbury on Saturday for their next friendly, before hosting Leicester City and Portsmouth later in the week. Those matches will give the new signings a chance to gel with the squad while the club finalises any last‑minute deals.

Where do the Rovers stand heading into the new season?

As of 9 July 2026, Bristol Rovers sit 14th in League Two with 62 points from 46 games (19 wins, 5 draws, 22 losses) and a recent form of D W W W W. They have scored 56 goals and conceded 65, sitting nine goals shy of a neutral goal difference, and sit 25 points behind leaders Bromley. Their last competitive result was a 1‑1 draw with Notts County on 2 May 2026.

What could happen in the next few days?

Raynor admitted talks are ongoing behind the scenes, with agents, clubs and players all jockeying for the best deals. “There’s a lot of talks going on… they want to get the best deals done,” he explained. He expects at least one departure to be confirmed before the end of the week, which could open up space for another summer signing.

Why does this matter for the fans?

Supporters have already seen a busy transfer window, and the prospect of further movement adds a layer of excitement – and uncertainty – as the squad shapes up for the campaign. With the club’s league position firmly mid‑table and a goal difference of –9, strategic signings could be the difference between a fight for promotion and another season of mid‑table mediocrity.

The next few days will reveal whether the Gas can turn their summer activity into a competitive edge, or if they’ll need to revisit their plans once the window closes.