Here are the three main reasons why Bristol Rovers must sign a centre-back in January
16:26, 09 Jan 2026Updated 18:38, 09 Jan 2026
(Image: Phil Oldham/Shutterstock)
Bristol Rovers have had a busy start to the January transfer window, bringing in Ryan De Havilland on a two-and-a-half year deal, along with recalling Isaac Hutchinson after his successful loan spell at Cheltenham Town. All five loanees – Kacper Lopata, Stephan Negru, Alfie Chang, Joel Cotterill and Freddie Issaka – have returned to their parent clubs as well, with Steve Evans reshaping the squad already.
Centre-back has been a position that Rovers have had a lot of depth in so far this season, especially when Tom Lockyer signed for the club in October. The departures of Lopata and Negru mean that this depth has shrunk, with only Alfie Kilgour, Clinton Mola, Taylor Moore, and Lockyer, as the primary options.
Having said that, here are the three main reasons why Rovers need a centre-back this month…
READ MORE: Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson offers update on Bristol Rovers transfer targetREAD MORE: ‘He is the manager who will get your club up and running’ – Darragh MacAnthony tells Bristol Rovers to back Steve EvansLockyer’s number six role opens up new possibilities
Lockyer played as a midfielder at times during his first spell at the club, during the Conference season, which saw the Gas win promotion via the play-offs. He enjoyed the best spell of his career at Luton Town at centre-back, though, winning promotion to the Premier League in 2023.
The 31-year-old’s first game since returning to Rovers was during the 4-0 defeat against Crawley Town, and in every match until the win at Shrewsbury, Lockyer started at either centre-back or right-back. This changed at the Croud Meadow, though, with Evans playing Lockyer as a number six.
He was outstanding on the afternoon, breaking up attacks, providing the Gas with an aerial presence in front of the backline, and helping the team achieve a first clean sheet in the league since the 1-0 win at Grimsby Town in August 2025.
Steve Evans manager of Bristol Rovers and Tom Lockyer of Bristol Rovers(Image: Michael Zemanek/Shutterstock)
Lockyer is an option as a defensive midfielder, alongside Josh McEachran and Kamil Conteh, in Evans’ preferred 4-3-3. It is likely that the 63-year-old used the former Premier League captain as a short-term option, especially given McEachran’s injury. Undoubtedly, it will be tough for Evans to move him out of this role, as it was his best performance since returning to Rovers by a long way.
If he sticks with Lockyer as a number six, then the need for a centre-back becomes greater.
Kilgour’s injury concerns and lack of physicality without him
You’d be hard-pressed to find a Rovers fan who doesn’t think that Kilgour has been the club’s best centre-back so far this season. He returned to the club in the summer, two years after his first spell at the club ended.
The last two seasons have been difficult for the 27-year-old, picking up a ruptured Achilles in August 2023 that kept him out of the remainder of the 2023/24 campaign. In the following season, Kilgour returned from his injury, making 17 appearances in all competitions for Mansfield Town before departing the club to join the Gas in the summer of 2025.
Some regard the Rovers captain as injury-prone, and hehas missed five league games this season due to a knee injury. He has played 19 out of the 24 league matches, including all four under Evans. Keeping him fit will be crucial in the remaining months of the campaign, but it would make Evans’ life much easier if a new centre-back was brought in to reduce the load on the captain and provide some much-needed physicality in the backline.
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When Kilgour went off with a knock at Bromley, the Gas were 2-1 up, albeit with ten-men. They were completely dominated physically in the last 15 minutes without the 27-year-old, and his absence was felt as Andy Woodman’s side turned it around to win 3-2.
2024/25 Player of the Season not replaced
Connor Taylor departed Rovers in the summer after significant interest from League One clubs, including Peterborough United and Wycombe Wanderers. He eventually signed for the latter for an undisclosed fee after winning the club’s Player of the Season award in the 2024/25 campaign, which saw the Gas relegated.
The reaction to his departure was mixed, with some happy to see the club make a profit from the centre-back, while others were disappointed to see a young defender, who had previously achieved promotion to League One in 2022 during a loan spell, leave.
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Whatever supporters think about his performances last season, Taylor was a 6 ft 6 in defender who played 42 out of the 46 league games. A physical presence in the backline who can stay fit is something that has been sorely missed for the Gas during this campaign, with Lopata and Negru failing to fill the void left by Taylor’s departure. Replacing the Wycombe centre-back in terms of his profile of defender is a key requirement in this window.
OPINION
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