Bristol Rovers manager Steve Evans has confirmed that the club have rejected an offer from a League One club for star winger Shaq Forde.
The 22-year-old was revitalised in blue and white following the arrival of the former Rotherham United man at the Memorial Stadium, playing a key role in their late-season charge which saw them finish in 14th place.
Rovers Keen To Hang On
Now, according to Bristol Live, that late surge in form has attracted the attention of at least one ‘top’ League One club, who have offered the Pirates a ‘significant six-figure’ bid for Forde.
That has been promptly rejected by Evans and his recruitment team, with the Scottish manager seeing the versatile attacking option as a pivotal part of their chances at an improved finish next season.
Forde’s position within the team has been strengthened further following the sale of fellow attacking midfielder Isaac Hutchinson, with the Gas confirming his sale to League One side Doncaster Rovers earlier in the week.
Plenty of sides from the third tier have coveted some of Rovers’ top talent, with the club also sanctioning the sale of Kamil Conteh to Bromley earlier in the window.
Having been at the club since 2024, Forde has had a tough time in the South West in terms of performances, and only managed to appear 24 times in League Two last season, a majority of which came after the turn of the new year.
Sign Of Intent From Evans
After arriving at Bristol Rovers midway through last season, Steve Evans has been allowed to properly assess where the club is at, and has now landed on which players he can and cannot trust to try and push the Pirates back into League One.
It seems that Shaq Forde is one of those in the former camp, with his efforts during their late-season unbeaten streak impressing his manager, and has put him comfortably as a regular starter heading into next season, with potential competition in Isaac Hutchinson sold.
While it has not been confirmed which League One side has pushed for a potential swoop of Forde, many of them will be keen on signing a new winger this window, given plenty of sides had previously entered the chase for another hot League Two prospect in Kyreece Lisbie.
However, it seems that Evans has already made clear that a potential sale is a non-starter, which will leave the side in question having to continue their hunt for a new attacking option elsewhere.
