Rovers look set to land loan deals for Spence and Thomas
BRISTOL Rovers have struck an agreement with Crystal Palace to sign Sion Spence on loan, the Bristol Post understands.
The Welshman, a star of Palace’s under-23s side, is set to join the Gas on a season-long loan, and likely to become Joey Barton’s eighth signing of a busy summer.
The Bristol Post reported yesterday the Gas had an interest in bringing the Wales Under-21 international, a graduate of Cardiff City’s academy, to the Memorial Stadium, and Barton has moved quickly to seal a deal with Palace which will see Spence spend the season in BS7.
The Penarth youngster was a surprise casualty in Cardiff’s released list last year, having scored 11 goals in 15 appearances for the Bluebirds’ under-23s in 2018-19.
But he was quickly snapped up by Palace in September 2020, scoring seven goals and adding assists in 15 PL2 games for the Eagles’ under-23s. He is yet to make a firstteam appearance. He will leave Selhurst Park for the Gas in the coming days, in hope of getting more experience and honing his skills.
Spence will follow midfield additions Sam Finley and Paul Coutts through the Memorial Stadium gates, with strikers Harvey Saunders and Aaron Collins, and defenders Nick Anderton, Connor Taylor and Mark Hughes already brought in.
Rovers also believe they have won the race for Barnsley winger Luke Thomas.
The Gas have made Thomas one of their top targets in this window and have been involved in talks with Barnsley for several weeks.
Barton’s hopes of signing the former Derby and Cheltenham Town player suffered a blow in the past week with Markus Schopp being appointed as manager at Oakwell, replacing Valerien Ismael.
Schopp was eager to assess his squad in full before sanctioning any departures, but the Gas have made a breakthrough in the past 24 hours and are set to beat Doncaster Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday to his signature.
Should the final details be tied up, Thomas will join Rovers on a season-long loan. The 22-year-old played on loan for Ipswich last season, but his time in Suffolk was cut short due to personal problems. He later discussed struggles with his mental health on social media.