Exclusive: Peterborough United lining up a move to sign Bristol Rovers star | OneFootball

Peterborough United are interested in Bristol Rovers' Connor Taylor, Football League World has learned

Peterborough United are lining up a move to sign Bristol Rovers defender Connor Taylor following the Pirates' relegation to League Two at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, Football League World can exclusively reveal.

Posh spent large parts of the season in a surprise battle against relegation alongside the Gas, but eventually survived by finishing in 18th with a five-point advantage over 21st-placed Crawley Town and are now looking to bolster the squad as Darren Ferguson bids for a higher league finish in 25/26.

Ferguson's side are undertaking something of a squad rebuild in the wake of what was a disappointing season at the Weston Homes Stadium.

The club's recently published retained list revealed that Jack Sparkes, Bradley Ihonvien, Nicholas Bilokapic and Jacob Wakeling have all been made available for transfer, while David Ajiboye and Kabongo Tshimanga are being released and sought-after trio Ricky-Jade Jones, Hector Kyprianou and Kwame Poku chose to depart at the end of their contracts.

Peterborough United's transfer interest in Bristol Rovers' Connor Taylor

Sources close to FLW have disclosed that Peterborough are plotting a summer swoop for Taylor's signature.

Naturally, Peterborough will be looking to capitalise on Bristol Rovers' relegation and the consequential weakened hand they now have when it comes to keeping hold of their prized assets, of which 23-year-old Taylor is certainly one - and Posh are big admirers.

The highly-rated defender, who has spent the last two seasons at the Memorial Stadium after signing from Stoke City in the summer of 2023, having previously enjoyed an impressive loan spell with the club, caught the eye across his 43 League One appearances in 24/25 despite his side's relegation.

Taylor, however, is not the only Rovers player to have admirers elsewhere ahead of the summer transfer window. Just yesterday, FLW separately broke the news of Derby County and Plymouth Argyle's interest in midfielder Kamil Conteh.

Bristol Rovers' Connor Taylor would fit Peterborough United's recruitment philosophy

Under chairman Darragh MacAnthony, Peterborough operate with a strict and devout recruitment philosophy to acquiring talent from the lower leagues at a fairly-low cost, with the hope of developing them before eventually collecting a significant profit.

It has worked time and time again, of course. From Ivan Toney, Dwight Gayle and Lee Tomlin to Ronnie Edwards, Ephron Mason-Clarke and Siriki Dembele, Posh have earned many plaudits for the club's eye for talent and the conveyor belt of quality which continues to deliver to this day.

It will be hoped, then, that a deal for Taylor can be completed and he can go on to become a star for the club in good time.

Still aged just 23, the central defender already has bags of senior experience and has earned his right to remain in League One.