How likely Bristol Rovers are of signing Millwall striker Macaulay Langstaff | OneFootball

Bristol Rovers may be set for disappointment in their pursuit of Millwall striker Macaulay Langstaff.

Bristol Rovers are reportedly unlikely to be able to sign Millwall striker Macaulay Langstaff this summer.

That's according to Bristol Live, who claim that while Langstaff is "a player the club admires", it will be tough for Bristol Rovers to secure a deal for the in-demand 28-year-old.

The Gas are preparing for life back in League Two following their relegation from League One last season, with a horror run of form that saw them pick up just one point from their final 10 games condemning them to the drop.

After parting company with Inigo Calderon in May, Rovers have re-appointed Darrell Clarke as their new manager, with the ex-Barnsley boss returning for a second spell at the Memorial Stadium, and it has been a busy start to the summer as he gets to work on rebuilding his squad.

The Gas have brought in six new signings so far this summer, with Brad Young, Luke Southwood, Macauley Southam-Hales, Alfie Kilgour, Jack Sparkes and Josh McEachran joining the club, but it seems that, at this stage, Langstaff will not be the next to arrive.

Update provided on Bristol Rovers' pursuit of Millwall striker Macaulay Langstaff

After making the move from Gateshead in the summer of 2022, Langstaff made a name for himself at Notts County, scoring an incredible 41 goals and providing seven assists in 47 games during his first season at Meadow Lane to help the club to promotion from the National League via the play-offs.

Langstaff's fine form continued in League Two in the 2023-24 season as he netted 29 goals and registered four assists in 49 appearances for the Magpies, and he did not only finish as the top scorer in the fourth tier, he was the leading marksman across the whole of the EFL.

That was enough to earn Langstaff a move to the Championship as he joined Millwall last summer for a fee of £700,000 plus add-ons, but he endured a frustrating debut season at The Den, and there are question marks over whether he has a long-term future at the club.

It has been claimed that Langstaff is keen to remain with the Lions this summer and fight for his place in the team, but he is attracting plenty of interest from elsewhere, and Bristol Rovers are believed to be one of those keeping tabs on him.

However, despite reports to the contrary, the Gas have not made a bid for Langstaff, and it could be difficult for them to win the race for his signature, with a number of League One clubs believed to be keen, while any decision on his future is not expected to be made until later in the window.

Another striker who will not be arriving at the Memorial Stadium is Jonson Clarke-Harris, and he is expected to sign for Turkish second division side Pendikspor after being released by Rotherham United, but strengthening the forward line is said to be Rovers' "biggest priority in the market", with "a number of other targets" on their radar.

Bristol Rovers must continue to monitor Macaulay Langstaff, Millwall situation

Langstaff was an incredibly ambitious transfer target for Bristol Rovers, and it was always likely to be tough for them to complete a deal for the striker.

However, with Langstaff's future not expected to be resolved until the latter part of the transfer window, the Gas should continue to keep tabs on his situation at Millwall, and if his potential League One move does not materialise, it could open the door for them to pounce.

The likes of Promise Omochere and Ruel Sotiriou are both strong options for Rovers in League Two, but the addition of a prolific number nine like Langstaff, who scored 29 goals during his previous season in the division, would be a game-changer for their promotion hopes.