League Two transfer news: Gillingham eye 12-goal striker, Notts County seal Premier League deal, Bristol Rovers recall done | OneFootball

FLW rounds up the latest transfer news in England's fourth tier

The League Two season has just gone past the halfway point, and, as ever, it is shaping up to be a dramatic second half of the campaign in the fourth tier of English football.

At present, Bromley lead the way at the top of the table, ahead of Swindon Town and Walsall. However, as was the case this time 12 months ago, only a select number of points separate a whole host of sides who continue to harbour promotion ambitions.

Only 10 points are currently between the aforementioned Robins in second and Colchester United in ninth, with several of those teams also yet to play their game in hand due to previously postponed matches.

It is just as congested at the foot of the division too, as there is only a four-point gap between major underperformers, Bristol Rovers, in 20th and Harrogate Town, who currently prop up the entire EFL, with the Sulphurites bottom on goal difference behind Newport County.

As such, any transfers which are conducted by a plethora of the league's 24 clubs could have major implications on what occurs between now and the final day of the season on May 2nd.

Yet, whilst movement in the market may not generate as many headlines as is seen in the Championship or League One, there are still many sides who will be looking to flex their muscles and ambition between now and the transfer deadline of 7PM on Monday, February 2nd.

Football League World has, as a result, provided a roundup of the latest talking points in League Two on the transfer front.

Gillingham and Salford City to rival League One duo in transfer race for 12-goal forward

Two sides who were hopeful of gaining promotion to the third tier at the beginning of the season are Gillingham and Salford City, under the respective management of experienced figures Gareth Ainsworth and Karl Robinson.

It has been reported by the Belfast Telegraph that the Ammies and Gills are set to rival League One sides, Wigan Athletic and Stevenage, for the services of Ross County's 12-goal forward, Ronan Hale.

The one-time Northern Ireland international has kept up his hot streak with the Dingwall-based side, having scored 12 times in 36 Scottish Premiership appearances last term despite the club's relegation, whilst they currently sit bottom of the Scottish Championship.

Given the fact Salford are well and truly in the hunt for automatic promotion whilst Ainsworth's men are just eight points outside the play-off places, acquiring the former Birmingham City man could go a long way into either club achieving such aims.

Notts County secure Crystal Palace transfer agreement

Notts County are pushing for promotion once more, as they currently sit just outsife of League Two's play-off spots, and Martin Paterson has been able to add to his squad in the first week of the window.

Man United loanee Sonny Aljofree may have headed back to Old Trafford, mainly due to a lack of minutes, but the Magpies have moved quick to replace the defender, with the permanent addition of Crystal Palace's Luke Browne confirmed by the club.

The 20-year-old has put pen-to-paper on a two-and-a-half year deal at Meadow Lane, and he's swapped being the captain of Palace's under-21's side for a crack at first-team football in the fourth tier of England's pyramid.

A regular this season for the Eagles' youth side in the EFL Trophy and the Premier League 2 competition, Irish centre-back Browne will now compete with the likes of Jacob Bedeau, Lewis Macari and Rod McDonald for a starting spot in Paterson's 11.

Steve Evans explains key Bristol Rovers decision involving Cheltenham Town for 10-goal ace

As previously mentioned, it has been a disastrous campaign for Bristol Rovers to-date, with Steve Evans now in the midst of his first transfer window in the West Country following his appointment on December 16th.

Although no acquisitions have been made by the Gas boss so far, he made the decisive call to end the agreements of five loanees at the Memorial Stadium, as well as opting to bring Isaac Hutchinson back into the club's first-team plans.

The 25-year-old spent the first half of the campaign on loan with divisional and local rivals, Cheltenham Town, where he scored 10 times across all competitions for the Gloucestershire side.

Speaking about why the former Walsall playmaker was recalled, Evans told the club website: “Isaac is a young man who has played against my team on many occasions and has always been a real threat.

"Obviously, I am aware that he’s done well at Cheltenham. Of course, I’ve seen Isaac play this season at Cheltenham because Cheltenham is one of a number of teams that I’ve watched.

“My plan was always to come in and have a fresh look at him. I got the kid back for a chat, amongst ignoring the media words, and there is a future here for him.

"I understand that there have been some issues in the past, but as I said to him, we go forward under me, and we call it the future. So, he has to come in, work hard, ignore the hype around him and just concentrate on playing," the Rovers boss explained.