Bristol Rovers In The Hunt For Former Rival

Bristol Rovers are showing an interest in signing former Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol City man Jack Hunt, according to reports in Bristol World

Hunt played his part in Sheffield Wednesday’s remarkable playoff semi-final comeback against Peterborough United last season, scoring the penalty that sealed the Owls’ ticket to Wembley. Despite his heroics, he is now a free agent and is attracting interest from The Gas. 

Bristol World reports that Joey Barton’s side ‘have an interest in signing Jack Hunt and could make a strong push to sign him.’  The move could be seen as slightly controversial given Hunt’s history with city rivals Bristol City. The defender played 115 times for The Robins over a three-season spell at Ashton Gate before returning to Wednesday for a second spell with the club.

Predominately a right back, but with the ability to play on the right side of midfield, the signing of Hunt will bring vast experience and added quality to the squad as well as provide competition for current first-choice right-back Luca Hoole. Barton has been busy in the transfer market this summer, recruiting now fewer than nine signings, including former Bristol City defender James Wilson, as he looks to build a side capable of challenging for promotion.

The former Huddersfield Town man has played the majority of his football in the Championship and is also very experienced at League One level. The free agent is, according to The Star, attracting interest from the Championship, League One and League Two with the likes of QPR, Bolton Wanderers and Bradford City all expressing an interest. 

Writer’s View

Hunt has been promoted from League One twice already in his career, with Huddersfield and Sheffield Wednesday, and the experience and quality he would bring to The Gas could prove vital if they want to mount a challenge themselves. 

I don’t believe the fact that he has played for their city rivals will prove to be an issue, with the two sides in different divisions and the fact that Rovers have completed the James Wilson signing so recently proving it can be done. 

With Bolton and Rovers reportedly providing Hunt with League One options, the move back to Bristol is perhaps more appealing after Bolton secured the services of the much admired Josh Dacres-Cogley who looks to have made the right backs spot his own.

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