Football Rovers may make a move to sign Pompey defender

BRISTOL Rovers are still keen on Portsmouth defender Brandon Haunstrup but may face competition from teams in Scotland, according to a report.

The Gas were reportedly considering a move for Haunstrup in January, however Pompey boss Kenny Jackett said he wasn’t for sale and Rovers were already stocked up in that department.

However, with Tareiq HolmesDennis having now left, Portsmouth News reports Rovers are still keen on Haunstrup with his contract set to end imminently.

The defender joins Rovers legend Lee Brown in being out of contract this summer, but with Brown favoured for the starting role in Pompey’s play-off semi-final against Oxford at Fratton Park and Haunstrup not in the squad over both ties, the young defender looks the more likely to leave.

The Pompey youth product has made just 19 appearances this season as he saw his game-time limited by the arrival of Steve Seddon on loan from Birmingham in January and the Gas may now be ready to pounce.

The report says the head of recruitment Tommy Widdrington is an admirer of Haunstrup, 23, and in the new financial climate following the coronavirus pandemic, free transfers are set to be all the rage this summer.

With Holmes-Dennis out of the door, the Gas are left with Luke Leahy and Michael Kelly as options at left-back. Kelly recently signed a one-year contract extension at the Gas and, with Leahy having a mixed season at the Mem, Ben Garner may look to bolster that position with the acquisition of Haunstrup. The signing would make sense when looking at the transfer model Bristol Rovers are adopting.

The Gas are clearly investing with youth, with Rovers close to tying up a deal for Chelsea’s Josh Grant and bringing in Josh Barrett, Cian Harris and James Daly on permanent deals during the 2019-20 season.

However, the report also says unnamed clubs in Scotland are also monitoring Haunstrup’s situation.

Rovers are also close to tying up deals for Sunderland’s Jack Baldwin and Gillingham’s Max Ehmer.

Portsmouth’s Brandon Haunstrup is out of contract this summer