Peterborough United have seen a second bid rejected for Bristol Rovers defender Connor Taylor as they look to fix their leaky backline.
The League One side had a £450,000 offer turned down this week as Darren Ferguson pushes for defensive reinforcements ahead of the 2025–26 campaign.
Posh Pushing Again for Player of the Season
Peterborough made Taylor one of their top targets earlier in the summer following a difficult campaign that saw them finish 18th in League One. Despite winning the EFL Trophy, Posh shipped 81 goals across 46 league games—the second-worst record in the division—and are desperate to stabilise at the back.
Taylor was one of the few bright spots in a struggling Bristol Rovers side last season. The 23-year-old played 38 times and was named the club’s Player of the Season following their relegation to League Two. That form caught the attention of multiple clubs, with Peterborough leading the charge for his signature.
The former Stoke City defender initially joined Rovers on loan before making the move permanent in 2023. With just one year remaining on his contract at the Memorial Stadium, Bristol Rovers could be tempted to sell—but not at the current price.
Ferguson’s side had already missed out on keeping several key defenders in 2024, including Ronnie Edwards, Josh Knight, and Harrison Burrows. In 2025, they’re selling again – Emmanuel Fernandez has departed Posh to join Scottish Premier League side Rangers for a reported fee of £3.5m. The club are using some of that and is now rebuilding, having also signed Sam Hughes after a loan spell last season.
Taylor is seen as the ideal fit to lead this new-look back line, with Peterborough likely to return with a third bid. Whether that offer will match Rovers’ valuation remains to be seen.
Writer’s View
Peterborough United’s pursuit of Connor Taylor makes a great deal of sense. He’s young, physically strong, and comes with proven quality at League One level—even in a relegated side. The fact he was voted Player of the Season underlines his consistency and influence, and he’s precisely the sort of figure Posh need to marshal a defence that struggled throughout 2024–25.
If Ferguson can get this deal over the line, Taylor could form the spine of a new defensive core at London Road. But with Rovers in no rush to sell, and knowing his contract expires in 2026, this one may require either a bigger cheque—or patience.
