Bristol Rovers have completed the signing of Gillingham striker Brandon Hanlan, Bristol Live understands.
The 23-year-old underwent a medical in Bristol and becomes the second pick-up from Priestfield for the Gas after captain Max Ehmer arrived in June.
Hanlan is effectively a replacement for Jonson Clarke-Harris following his sale to Peterborough United last month for a fee in the region of £1.25m.
Since Clarke-Harris’ departure it’s been evident that Rovers have lacked Clarke-Harris’ presence through the middle, although Jonah Ayunga did make an impact against Walsall in midweek.
However, the former Havant & Waterlooville striker is new to League One and cannot be expected to shoulder the striking burden on his own.
Hanlan is a free agent but Gills, who had offered the striker a new contract earlier in the summer, are entitled to compensation because he’s under 24 and has been training with the club.
Portsmouth were interested in the Charlton academy product earlier in the window but there interest has cooled given the amount of compensation that would be due.
Hanlan has a modest scoring record at League One level with 13 goals in 83 appearances for Gillingham and Charlton Athletic in the division.
But has been signed through similar principles as Clarke-Harris was by head of recruitment Tommy Widdrington in January 2019.
With Ben Garner’s coaching, the Gas believe he can add more consistency to his game in front of goal to match his physical and technical qualities.
Hanlan is blessed with considerable pace and energy and is also tactically flexible in the sense he can also operate in wide areas.
Following last Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Ipswich, in which Jayden Mitchell-Lawson operated as a false nine, Garner hinted at the type of player he expected to sign.
“We’ve got boxes we want ticked, now we might not get all of them ticked because sometimes you tick all of those boxes and they’re a Premier League player,” Garner said.
“As long as the majority of those boxes are ticked and the ones that aren’t are areas we think we can develop, that’s what is important.”
