Bristol Rovers closing in on transfer deal for European striker | OneFootball

Bristol Rovers are in advanced talks to sign Valerenga forward Mees Rijks.

Bristol Rovers are set to utilise the January transfer window to rectify their attacking issues amid their battle to avoid relegation from League Two.

The Gas suffered yet another defeat last Saturday, when they were beaten 1-0 by Colchester United, leaving them just three points clear of the drop zone.

Steve Evans' men have managed a poor return of just 21 goals in 25 fourth-tier fixtures this term, which is five fewer than bottom club Newport County.

Rovers may be in for yet another tough afternoon this Saturday, when they travel to automatic promotion chasers Salford City, who successfully advanced to the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 3-2 win over Swindon Town on Tuesday.

Bristol Rovers in advanced talks for Dutch striker Mees Rijks

The Gas showed their quality when they defeated Shrewsbury Town 3-0 on New Year's Day, but successive defeats to Plymouth Argyle and Colchester in the EFL Trophy and League Two, respectively, have left Evans's men in another poor vein of form.

Meanwhile, according to Bristol Live, the West Country outfit are in advanced talks to sign Dutch striker Mees Rijks.

The 22-year-old currently plies his trade for Norwegian club Valerenga, although he has been on loan at Dutch club De Graafschap this term, failing to score in five appearances.

Rijks previously played for Dutch top-flight side Utrecht, albeit he made just one senior appearance for them, before his move to Valerenga in 2024, where he scored 13 times in the second tier of Norwegian football in the 2024 season — he could now be set for a new career move with a switch to England.

Mees Rijks swoop is a gamble for Bristol Rovers, but it could be worth taking

Rijks spent the majority of his time as a Utrecht player representing their second team, Jong FC Utrecht, in the second division of Dutch football.

The former Netherlands Under-19 international's best return for Jong FC Utrecht came in the 2022/23 campaign, when he scored eight goals and produced three assists in 34 Eerste Divisie appearances.

Rijks went on to notch five goals and two assists in the first half of the 2023/24 Eerste Divisie season, which was enough to convince Valerenga to move for his services.

The 22-year-old went on to produce a career-best return of 13 goals in the 2024 Norwegian second tier season, firing his side to promotion.

Rijks struggled in the top flight for Valerenga, though, which prompted them to loan him out to De Graafschap last summer.

Question marks remain over whether the ex-Utrecht man can produce the goods in League Two for Rovers, but if he does establish goal-scoring form in the fourth tier, it could keep Evans's men in the EFL.

The South West club's attacking issues have been exacerbated by the fact that Promise Omochere and Callum Morton are both absent through injury, while Ellis Harrison has not featured in the starting 11 since returning to action on New Year's Day.

Rovers face tough encounters against promotion chasers Salford and MK Dons in their next two games, ahead of their relegation six-pointer against Newport on 31 January.

The Gas will hope that Rijks can help them earn much-needed wins over both the Dons and County, as their EFL status remains in the balance.