Tom Nichols has been told by Bristol Rovers he can leave in the January transfer window.
The 26-year-old forward has made 28 appearances for the Gas this season in all competitions, scoring four goals - the most he has netted in a single campaign for Rovers.
The former Exeter City striker, who joined from Peterborough United in 2017, has endured a difficult time at the Pirates, having often received criticism from fans unhappy with his goalscoring record.
But he has had the support of his teammates, including top scorer Jonson Clarke-Harris who made a passionate defence of Nichols and his importance to the team thanks to his high workrate and popularity in the dressing room.
However, his time at the Mem could be at an end, with new boss Ben Garner telling him he is free to leave.
Bristol Live understands there are no concrete offers on the table yet, with the Somerset-born striker’s representatives exploring options to move this window.
He is sure to have some suitors interested after bursting onto the scene as a teenager at Exeter City - scoring 34 goals in 97 games for the League Two outfit.
And he has shown flashes of quality at Rovers, with his last goal a brilliant diving header in the memorable win at Ipswich Town.
But the arrivals of attacking talents Josh Barrett and Jayden Mitchell-Lawson this week have pushed Nichols further down the pecking order, and it appears best for both parties to move on.
Garner admitted at his press conference on Tuesday, ahead of Wednesday’s EFL Trophy tie with Stevenage, some players could be on their way out of the Mem.
With just six months left on his contract, Rovers will hope to secure a fee for Nichols rather than a loan to help recoup some of the cash spent on the signing of Reading playmaker Barrett.
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