Swindon Town marksman Billy Paynter is one of the men on Bristol Rovers' wanted list as they look to land a new striker during January's transfer window.

The Pirates are in the market for a target man as they look to fill the gap left by Rickie Lambert's £1 million exit to Southampton at the start of the season.

And they are currently being linked with interest in 25-year-old Paynter, whose future with the Robins has become the subject of speculation following the arrival of former Juventus and Portsmouth marksman Vincent Pericard at the County Ground last week.

Paynter, who is 6ft tall, would give the Pirates the sort of solid physical presence up front they have been lacking since Lambert left.

Rovers' boss Paul Trollope has already said he feels his squad would benefit from a player who can hold the ball up and link play. And Paynter also knows where the net is, having scored 13 goals this season – six of them coming in his last nine games.

Having started his career with Port Vale, the Liverpool-born forward then had spells with Hull City and Southend before joining the Robins for an undisclosed fee in the summer of 2007.

Out of contract at the Wiltshire club at the end of this season, there have been reports that Paynter has turned down a new deal at Swindon – although that is something the player has denied, saying he is currently awaiting a formal offer from the club.

Huddersfield – who take on Rovers at the Galpharm Stadium tonight – and Charlton have also been linked with interest in a player who has shared an impressive partnership with youngster Charlie Austin over the last couple of months.

Rovers will not comment on the rumours regarding Paynter, although Trollope says the Pirates will now renew their search for central defensive cover as well as boosting their strikeforce after their hopes of landing Pat Baldwin on a permanent basis collapsed.

The central defender has done a U-turn and snubbed the chance to return to the Memorial Stadium after his six-game loan spell.

Instead, he has opted to remain with the Essex club.

The news came after the 27-year-old centre-back came off the bench to play the final 40 minutes of Colchester's 5-0 home defeat by Norwich at the weekend.

"We had agreed a fee with Colchester and agreed a package with the player as well, but at the last minute he decided he wanted to stay and fight for a place there," said Trollope.

"We would have liked Pat in the building, but he has decided otherwise at the moment – which is his prerogative.

"He enjoyed his time with us but there were personal circumstances that were a factor in his decision.

"We are not writing it off completely, but at the moment it is dead."

Baldwin's decision means Rovers will now have to renew their search for defensive cover as well as a new striker while January's transfer window remains open.

"We will look at other possibilities," said Trollope.

"We are still looking at the striker situation very closely as well. We would like two in the building by the end of the month and are confident of doing that."

Bristol Rovers' trip to Leyton Orient, called off on Saturday because of waterlogging, has been rearranged for Tuesday, February 2.