Bristol Rovers are understood to have made a six-figure bid for Swindon Town marksman Billy Paynter as they look to bolster their firepower.

But their attempt to land the 25-year-old Scouser could hinge on whether the Robins are able to add to their own ranks before the end of this month's transfer deadline.

Paynter is known to be top of the Pirates' wanted list as they seek to add a striker and it is understood they have lodged an offer of around £100,000 with the Wiltshire club for a player who has scored 14 goals this season, including six in his last eight outings.

Despite signing French striker Vincent Pericard from Carlisle earlier this month, Swindon boss Danny Wilson is keen to add further options up front – with Crawley marksman Charlie Ademeno one of the names on his wanted list.

Their willingness to part with Paynter – who is out of contract at the end of the season – is likely to depend on whether they are able to do further business.

Rovers' boss Paul Trollope confirmed after his side's 2-0 home win over Hartlepool that the club remain in the hunt for two new players, although he will not confirm their identities.

He said: "We are in discussions with a number of players, although I won't be giving names or details – we don't air our business in public.

"We are aware that time is running out. We have gone down a few dead ends along the way, as all clubs do, in our search to improve the squad.

"We are at the level now where the players we bring in need to be at a pretty good level to improve us. Obviously the wages and transfer fees associated with that level of player are sometimes out of our reach.

"But we have got a fund to spend and hopefully we can spend it.

"From the outside it is easy to say: 'We need this – let's get it in.'

"But even though we have identified a large number, the actual nuts and bolts of doing it isn't always as easy as people think.

"We know what we need, we know what we would like and we know what we think will progress the squad. The chairman has backed us and we are hopeful of doing it before the window shuts."

Trollope was delighted to see Rovers make it five home wins on the trot at the weekend, although he acknowledged there was room for improvement in the performance.

"We targeted four points from the week after the point up at Huddersfield and we got it. We are pleased with that and pleased with the clean sheet," he said.

"But we realise that for quite a few spells in the game, the performance wasn't good enough – especially with the ball.

"We didn't pass it the way we normally do and like to do.

"It was a performance that we are not particularly proud of, but we have probably played for 20 minutes and managed to win 2-0.

"The first half was a very frustrating one from our point of view. After getting an early goal we looked for the team to settle down and show a bit of composure and confidence on the ball.

"Hartlepool made it difficult for us and played some good football. They got their game plan right, strung five across midfield and we found it very difficult to take it into their half.

"We spoke about it at half-time and in the middle of the second half we finally started playing with some energy.

"The front players started getting hold of it and showing the energy and movement you need to take your play forward.

"In the end we got the second goal and possibly could have had a third – but Hartlepool will feel hard done by that they didn't score."

Trollope praised the contribution from striker Darryl Duffy, who came off the bench to grab a vital second goal after Chris Lines had nodded He said: "Darryl's introduction and movement – and his willingness to get down the sides behind people – pushed them back and opened it up so our midfield players had time and space to play.

"Darryl has trained fantastically well. His attitude and application to all the training we do is first class.

"He works very hard and has had a few opportunities this year – he has taken a few and been a bit frustrated at other times.

"He got 13 goals last year when he hit real form in the second half of the season and there is nothing to say that he cannot reproduce the same this year."

Rovers – who remain ninth in the table return but closed the gap on the top six to four points – return to action next weekend when they face struggling Wycombe at the Memorial Stadium.