EFL clubs have until this Saturday to submit their retained lists for the summer which presents a clearer picture as to the players who are moving on and, from a Bristol Rovers perspective, could be available over the next three months.
The free agent pool is increasingly the marketplace for teams out of the Premier League to shop in for additions and some of the most prized players released will likely have offers into double figures.
It can make for a chaotic backdrop for which to plan your summer recruitment as Rovers will ultimately have many options and considerations for the positions of desire, taking their list of “targets” far beyond the 50-mark overall.
It means they have to be opportunistic and reactive to any disappointments but as the early lists below indicate, there is plenty of value to be had providing you can find the right financial package and present a suitable sales pitch.
With more to follow in the coming days, here is the list of those players to have been confirmed as being released or in talks over new deals in the Championship, League One and League Two…
Championship
Norwich City
Released: Sam Byram, Kieran Dowell, Michael McGovern, Josh Martin, Danel Sinani, Teemu Pukki
QPR
Released: Luke Amos, Leon Balogun, Olamide Shodipo, Conor Masterson (signed for Gillingham), Charlie Owens, Ody Alfa
In talks: Chris Martin, Jordan Archer, Elijah Dixon-Bonner, Aaron Drewe, Stephen Duke-McKenna
Options exercised: Chris Willock, Joe Gubbins, Charlie Kelman
Plymouth Argyle
Released: James Bolton, Conor Grant, Danny Mayor, Luke Jephcott, Adam Parkes, Ryan Law, Finley Craske, Brandon Pursall
Offered new contracts: Jack Endacott, Zak Baker, Jordan Houghton, James Wilson, Dan Scarr, Ryan Hardie, Niall Ennis
Options exercised: Brendan Galloway, Oscar Halls
Stoke City
Released: Sam Clucas, Demeaco Duhaney, Aden Flint, Morgan Fox, Phil Jagielka, Tashan Oakley-Boothe, Nick Powell
Offered new contract: Frank Fielding
Options exercised: Jack Bonham, Blondy Nna Noukeu
League One
Cambridge United
Released: Greg Taylor, Liam O’Neil, Dimitar Mitov, Harvey Knibbs, Joe Ironside, Sam Smith, Shilow Tracey, George Williams, Lloyd Jones, Ben Worman
Offered new contracts: Ryan Bennett, Harrison Dunk, Paul Digby, George Thomas, Fejiri Okenabirhie
Charlton Athletic
Released: Macauley Bonne, Sean Clare, Alex Gilbey, Nathan Harness, Ryan Inniss, Albie Morgan
Offered new contracts : Michael Hector, Aaron Henry, Terell Thomas.
Cheltenham Town
Released: Charlie Raglan, Charlie Brown, Shaun MacDonald, Callum Ebanks, Dylan Barkers, Zac Guinan, Christian Norton
Offered new contracts: Liam Sercombe, Max Harris, Ryan Jackson, Ryan Broom, Adulai Sambu
In talks: Grant Horton, Reece Hutchinson
Derby County
Released: James Chester, Richard Stearman, Curtis Davies
In talks: David McGoldrick, Scott Loach
Exeter City
Released: Jamal Blackman, Jack Sparkes, Jevani Brown
In talks: Josh Key, Archie Collins, Kevin McDonald, Jonathan Grounds (for player/coach role)
Fleetwood Town
Released: Dan Batty, Alex Cairns, Darnell Johnson
Option exercised: Drew Baker
Offered new contract: Harrison Holgate
Leyton Orient
Released: Craig Clay, Sonny Fish, Anthony Georgiou, Jordan Lyden, Sam Sargeant, Harry Smith, Connor Wood, Matt Young
Offered new contract: Omar Beckles, Rhys Byrne, Dan Happe, Paul Smyth, Harrison Sodje, Jayden Sweeney, Lawrence Vigouroux
Lincoln City
Released: Joe Walsh, Max Sanders, Regan Poole
In talks: Sean Roughan
Northampton Town
Released: David Norman, Josh Harrop, Jonny Maxted, Paul Osew, Miguel Ngwa, Jack Connor, Liam Cross
Offered new contract: Ali Koiki, Max Dyche, Tom King
Oxford United
Released: Matty Taylor, Djavan Anderson, Jodi Jones, Slavi Spasov, Kie Plumley, Ben Davis, Yoav Sade, Will Owens
Portsmouth
Released: Clark Robertson, Michael Jacobs, Louis Thompson, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Kieron Freeman, Jayden Reid, Alfie Bridgman, Dan Gifford
Options exercised: Connor Ogilvie, Josh Oluwayemi, Harry Jewitt-White
Offered new contract: Ronan Curtis, Jay Mingi
Port Vale
Released: Jamie Proctor, Rory Holden, Tom Pett, Derek Agyakwa, Sammy Robinson, Lucas Covolan
In talks: Dan Jones, David Worrall, Ben Garrity, James Wilson, Mal Benning
Wycombe Wanderers
Released: Curtis Thompson, Lewis Wing, Tyla Dickinson, Jordan Willis, Daryl Horgan, Nick Freeman, Adam Leathers, Josh Blunkell, Charles Hagan, Arnold Matshazi, Ben Kaninda
In talks: Dominic Gape, Jack Wakely, Jordan Obita
League Two
AFC Wimbledon
Released: Dylan Adjei-Hersey, Elliott Bolton, Aaron Cosgrave, David Fisher, Kwaku Frimpong, Luke Jenkins, George Marsh
Offered new contracts: Ethan Chislett, Aaron Pierre
Option exercised: Isaac Ogundere
Retired: Chris Gunter
Barrow
Released: Patrick Brough (refused new contract offer), Scott Moloney, David Moyo, Mark Ellis, Joe Grayson, Solomon Nwabuokei, Benni Smales-Braithwaite (invited back for pre-season), Pawel Zuk (invited back for pre-season)
Offered new contracts : Josh Gordon, Josh Kay, Josh Lillis
Retired: Jason Taylor (offered a coaching role within the club)
Colchester United
Released: Ryan Clampin, Luke Chambers, Tommy Smith, Luke Hannant, Cole Skuse (retired, appointed manager of Bury Town), Alan Judge, Freddie Sears, Kieran O’Hara, Tom Eastman, Lordon Akolbire, Emyr Huws, Billy Cracknell, Harvey Sayer, Lion Bello, Benedict Bioletti
Options exercised: Noah Chilvers, Ossama Ashley, Al-Amin Kazeem, Marley Marshall Miranda, Chay Cooper, Jayden Fevrier, Harry Beadle, Kaan Bennett, Bradley Ihionvien
Crewe Alexandra
Released: Callum Ainley, David Amoo, Sean Lawton, Kelvin Mellor
Available for transfer: Dave Richards, Billy Sass-Davies
In talks: Bassala Sambou.
Offered new contracts: Dan Agyei, Lewis Billington, Tom Booth, Charlie Finney, Christopher Long, Rod McDonald, Tariq Uwakwe
Option exercised: Luke Offord
Grimsby Town
Released: Ollie Battersby, Bryn Morris, Ryan Taylor, Josh Emmanuel, Owen Gallacher, Jaz Goundry, Jordan Cropper, Sean Scannell
Offered new contract: Max Crocombe
Options exercised: Jamie Bramwell, Danny Amos
Retired: Shaun Pearson (will now take up a role within Paul Hurst’s football department)
Harrogate Town
Released: Dior Angus, Max Wright, Alex Pattison
In talks: George Horbury
Retired: Rory McArdle
Mansfield Town
Released: Danny Johnson, Jimmy Knowles
Options exercised: Taylor Anderson, Scott Flinders
In talks: George Cooper, Jason Law, James Perch, Stephen Quinn, Kieran Wallace
Morecambe
Released: Connor Ripley, Liam Gibson, Ryan Delaney, Dan Crowley, Cole Stockton, Ash Hunter, Adam Smith, Andre Da Silva Mendes, Arthur Gnahoua, Oumar Niasse, Jon Obika, Ryan Cooney, Pape Souare, Courtney Duffus
Newport County
Released: Lewis Collins, Jack Karadogan, Evan Ovendale, Lewys Twamley, Joseph Woodiwiss, Robbie Wilmott, Matty Dolan
Offered new contract: Scot Bennett, James Clarke, Michael Demetriou, Priestley Farquharson, Aaron Lewis, Cameron Norman, Nicholas Townsend
Sutton United
Released: Omar Bugiel, Filip Chalupniczak, Roman Charles-Cook, Luke Gambin, Adam Lovatt, Will Randall, Matt Ridley, Coby Rowe, Kwame Thomas, Donovan Wilson
Tranmere Rovers
Released: Jake Burton, Mat Hewelt, Joel Mumbongo, Kyle Jameson, Jon Nolan, Flo Hoti, Ryan Stratulis, Max Fisher, Arthur Lomax, Jack Williams
In talks: Josh Dacres-Cogley, Chris Merrie, Joe Murphy
Wrexham
Released: Ryan Austin, Kai Calderbank-Park, Malik Dijksteel, Reece Hall-Johnson, Jake Hyde, Harry Lennon (retired, injury), Rory Watson, Tom Jenkins, Dan Jones, Louis Lloyd, Will Mountfield
Offered new contract: Liam McAlinden
In talks: Ben Foster
Options exercised: Scott Butler, Aaron James, Mark Howard, Anthony Forde, Paul Mullin. A decision as to whether Kai Evans will be offered a new deal will be deferred until he is fit to return to training.
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