Tubbs is on 5k+ per week

Bristol Rovers boss Darrell Clarke is facing competition in a bid to land top January transfer target Matt Tubbs.

Clarke has made the Bournemouth striker his number one transfer window target and is hoping that their time together at Salisbury City will help him persuade Tubbs, 30, to become part of Rovers’ bid to return to the Football League at the first time of asking.

But after scoring 15 goals on loan at AFC Wimbledon since the start of the season, Tubbs has become hot property and is attracting the interest of four or five other clubs.

Putting together a financial package to persuade Tubbs, who is believed to be earning in excess of £5,000 per week at Bournemouth, could also prove to be another stumbling block for Rovers.

The security of a long-term permanent contract could help Clarke sway a deal in Rovers’ favour for a player who is set to return to Bournemouth at the start of January to consider his options before becoming a free agent in the summer.

Wimbledon boss Neal Ardley, of course, is keen to keep Tubbs at Kingsmeadow for the rest of the season, but admitted that the chances of that happening are now looking increasingly unlikely.

“We’d love to have Matt Tubbs for the season but it is impossible to lock down the loan,” Ardley told local reporters recently. “Bournemouth and Matt have got the option in January to do what they need to do, we’ve tried to offer incentives for both parties to leave him here for the season.

“Matt is enjoying himself, but he is 30, his contract is up with Bournemouth in the summer and he will do what is right for him.

“When you’ve scored 13, 14 goals before December you’re going to have clubs sniffing around you. Is Matt going to be here at the end of January? I don’t know - watch this space.

“When they are someone else’s players and you’re only paying 25 per cent of their salary you can’t call the shots. We’re looking at other options but he wouldn’t be easy to replace.”