Having trained with Championship club Bristol City in recent days, manager Lee Johnson confirmed the Robins will not be offering a deal to former Wycombe defender Aaron Pierre, leaving the path open to other clubs chasing his signature.

The former Brentford youngster will be in high demand this summer following a successful spell in Buckinghamshire with Wycombe, and will find himself flooded with offers before the season starts next month.

After attracting such firm interest from a Championship club, others will take notice, and a move to a top half League One side will be the minimum expectation for Pierre.

One club that should consider a deal for Pierre is Bristol Rovers, who are in need of defensive reinforcements after leaking 70 goals last season.

The club have been linked with a season long loan deal for former loanee Ryan Sweeney, who would slide straight into the first team, and Rovers should look to Pierre to partner the Stoke City man in the heart of their defence next season.

20-year-old Sweeney and 24-year-old Pierre would form a young, dynamic pairing at the Memorial Ground, and would certainly plug Rovers’ questionable defensive record.

If manager Darrell Clarke can link these two ahead of the big kick off next month, Rovers have to be serious contenders for a place in the top six.