Portsmouth's Ellis Harrison is in talks to leave Fratton Park this month but the striker is highly unlikely to make a return to Bristol Rovers, Bristol Live understands.
Harrison is believed to be in discussions with a club in League One over a move, with Shrewsbury Town and Joey Barton's former club Fleetwood Town linked by the Portsmouth News, while the 27-year-old came close to joining Plymouth Argyle in the summer.
Rovers have previously enquired about Harrison's availability, but interest in this window had been minimal given the Welshman's reluctance to drop into League Two while Ryan Loft's arrival on Tuesday from Scunthorpe United, reduced that even further.
The Gas would unquestionably have been keen on signing him had Harrison made himself available to them, but the reality was he was nearly always looking for a move to stay in the third tier.
Pompey are also keen on a permanent move for the forward, who becomes a free agent in the summer, as opposed to a loan and his wage expectations in that context would have been hard for the Gas to match.
Barton has maintained he has wanted at least one forward in this window and could still be open for business in that department, should an opportunity present itself, but has secured the physical central striker he's craved early in the window.
The possibility of Harrison's return has excited Gasheads given he is a League One-equality striker and the personal relationship they held with him during his previous seven years in north Bristol.
Harrison scored 52 goals in 205 games for the Gas having emerged through the club's youth system before departing for Ipswich Town in the summer of 2018.
Meanwhile, Blackburn Rovers have completed the signing of James Brown from League of Ireland side Drogheda United with the 22-year-old previously linked with Rovers.
Reports in Ireland had claimed that the Gas and Blackburn had the attacking full-back on trial at the end of last year.
Bristol Live understands that Brown was known to Rovers and discussions were held about taking a closer look at him but, ultimately, he never undertook a trial, giving Blackburn a free run in terms of interest within England.
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