Exclusive: Bristol Rovers closing in on deal for highly-rated League Two goalscoring midfielder

Bristol Rovers are closing in on a deal to sign Walsall midfielder Isaac Hutchinson, Bristol Live understands, with the Gas yet to announce their first signing of the summer.

Hutchinson enjoyed an outstanding season in League Two last term in a Saddlers side that finished 11th, scoring 15 goals and providing 12 assists in 53 appearances across all competitions. The 24-year-old also featured in all 46 league games for Mat Sadler's side.

A product of the Brighton and Hove Albion youth system, the Eastbourne-born playmaker joined Walsall from Derby County in 2022 where he made four senior appearances for the Rams. He also spent some time in the south west playing on loan at Forest Green Rovers in the second half of the 2020/21 season. Hutchinson also had a loan spell at Crawley Town the following campaign before swapping the East Midlands for the West permanently two summers ago.

Over the course of two seasons, the 24-year-old has made 106 appearances for Walsall, boasting an immaculate fitness record which is a trait Matt Taylor will no doubt be keen to add to his squad after an injury-ridden campaign last term.

During that time, the midfielder has scored 23 goals and registered 19 assists and is evidently ready to make the step up to League One level.

In regards to a fee, it is currently unclear what Rovers will pay the Sadlers with Hutchinson still having one year left on his current contract at the Bescot Stadium although there have been reports that the midfielder has a buyout clause.

Rovers are bracing themselves for outside interest in Antony Evans with Portsmouth understood to be a club interested in the attacking midfielder. The Rovers favourite's outstanding campaign in blue-and-white quarters last term earned him the title of the club's player of the season and Hutchinson could be a model replacement for the 25-year-old should he depart.

The Gas are yet to confirm a signing this summer at the time of writing but are understood to be close to a number of deals with centre-back Taylor Moore, goalkeeper Cameron Dawson and young defender Dan Ellison all players that have been strongly linked with moves to BS7.