How Bristol Rovers' January window pans out, according to Fm 26placeholder image
How Bristol Rovers' January window pans out, according to Fm 26 | Getty Images
Football Manager 26 predicts how Bristol Rovers’ January transfer window could pan out
Bristol Rovers have had a very challenging calendar year in 2025 so far. They were relegated from League One after a torrid end to the campaign which saw them lose nine of their last 10 matches, and now they are well behind in the race to win promotion back to the third tier after winning just five of their opening 14 matches.
Darell Clarke is back in the dugout seven years after leaving Bristol Rovers. He’s the third permanent coach the Pirates have had since the start of December 2024, but unlike his first spell which featured back-to-back promotions, he’s finding it difficult to gel the team together, with the team conceding four goals in all of their last three outings in defeats to MK Dons, Crawley and Tranmere Rovers.
With that in mind, we simmed up to February on the new Football Manager 26 Beta, to get an idea on how Bristol Rovers might approach the January window. And it’s fair to say it could well prove to be a busy one.
Bristol Rovers sign former Man Utd prodigy to help solve goal crisis
Bristol Rovers have managed just 14 goals in as many matches this season - a concerning figure for a team that many in their pre-season predictions felt would be challenging for the league title before a ball was kicked. As it stands, Fabrizio Cavegn is the top scorer with four, but Football Manager believes he could soon have help from former Manchester United academy graduate Will Keane.
The five-time Republic of Ireland international, aged 32, is currently without a club but has proven he can score goals by hitting double figures in both the Championship and League One in recent campaigns. Alfie Pond, a young Wolves defender with one league appearance, could also move to Bristol Rovers on loan in January. He spent last season on loan at League One side Stockport County and made six appearances for the promotion-chasing side.
Everton and Hull City youngsters also arrive
Bristol Rovers could use the loan market to their advantage to sign two young prospects in Everton’s Francis Gomez and Hull City’s João Mendes. Gomez is a central defensive midfielder, who plays at Under-21 level for the Toffees, he’s represented Gambia at international level once in his career, but is still waiting for his senior debut.
Mendes is a Brazilian winger that’s been on the books at both Burnley and Barcelona in the past. He’s the son of former Ballon d’Or and World Cup-winning winger Ronaldinho, who starred for the likes of AC Milan, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. Fola Onanuga, a former England Under-15 international, that plays youth football in Liverpool’s midfield, also arrives on a six-month loan in FM 26’s action-packed predicted window.
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