Joey Barton believes talks to extend Scott Sinclair's contract at Bristol Rovers are "progressing nicely", and he is not the only man the manager is eager to tie to a new deal.
Sinclair's short-term contract with the Gas expires on January 23 and Barton has remained optimistic that a deal would be struck throughout negotiations with the winger, who has scored three goals in 14 appearances since re-joining his boyhood club in October.
The 33-year-old is a product of the club's academy but made just two first-team appearances before being sold to Chelsea in his teens, but his return to the place where it all started has delighted supporters and his manager alike, and Barton is hopeful a deal will get done.
"We are moving it on, I’ve spoken to Scotty and it’s moving," Barton said. "It doesn’t expire until January 23. It’s progressing nicely and I don’t think we are a million miles away, but you are until it’s signed.
"He’s had a few sniffs from people but from speaking to his agent and speaking to him directly, I think he’s really settled and he understands what we’re trying to do here.
"I think he knows he can be a really big player for us and I think he is enjoying his football."
Sinclair is not the only out-of-contract player who Rovers intend to offer new terms to, with talks underway with both Josh Grant and Harry Anderson. Their contracts are set to expire at the end of the season and Barton wants to see them stay at the Mem.
Versatile 24-year-old Grant is out for the rest of the season after surgery on both knees that Rovers hope will cure a long-standing problem, but Barton has repeatedly declared his admiration for the former Chelsea prospect's talents.
Anderson, aged 25, has had an injury-hit season of his own, albeit to a lesser extent as he has played 16 times in League One this term, but he is back in contention for the weekend trip to Cambridge United. Like Grant, he can play in multiple positions and brings significant value to Barton's squad.
Rovers are in a strong position contractually with key players across their squad, with Aaron Collins, James Connolly, Sam Finley and Antony Evans among those tied down beyond the end of this season, and Barton wants to add to that core.
"We’re speaking to both of them," Barton added. "Josh, obviously, is coming back from a long-term injury and I think it is certainly something we will try to do to get him back in our team because you know how highly regarded he is by me.
"Harry, we are back and forth. We have already begun conversations with him and his agent and Scotty is the same.
"The lads who are on loan, we’ve just got to make sure we solidify them in the January window and we don’t lose any of them because they have been key players for us and we’ve got to get the jigsaw pieces added correctly. We only want quality at this moment, not quantity."
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