Joey Barton says Bristol Rovers are ready to be "mobile" in the transfer market in the coming weeks as he tries to add quality to the "good foundation" he has in place.
Speaking after Rovers' 2-0 pre-season friendly win over Stoke City on Tuesday, the manager reiterated his desire to bring in up to seven more new signings before the end of the transfer window in six weeks' time. Rovers have wrapped up four deals this summer, bringing in John Marquis, James Gibbons and Jordan Rossiter, while James Connolly's stay in BS7 has been made permanent.
But the manager is mindful that several key players from last season's promotion triumph have left permanently or returned to their parent clubs and are yet to return or be replaced, including Luke Thomas, who he is eager to sign on a permanent deal from Barnsley. Nonetheless, he insists he is relaxed about the situation thanks so the core he has in place ahead of the new League One season.
