8 players Gillingham could sell or release ahead of a busy summer transfer window | OneFootball

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Football League World

·14 April 2021

8 players Gillingham could sell or release ahead of a busy summer transfer window

Article image:8 players Gillingham could sell or release ahead of a busy summer transfer window

It could be an intriguing end to the season for Gillingham.

Sitting six points adrift of the play-offs, with five games of their League One campaign left to play, the Gills may still be hopeful of claiming a play-off place in the final few weeks of the season, and with it, giving themselves a chance of winning promotion back to the Championship for the 2021/22 campaign.


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However, it cannot be denied that Steve Evans’ side do face something of an uphill battle to do that, which could put them under a bit of pressure come the summer.

Failure to win promotion this season could start to attract interest in certain members of Gillingham’s playing squad, while the club themselves may feel the need to move certain individuals on at the end of the campaign.

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But just who are the players who we might see make their departure from Priestfield over the course of the next few months?

Here, we’ve taken a look at eight players Gillingham may sell or release during what could be a busy summer for the club.

We start this list with centre back Jack Tucker, who is one player Gillingham could find themselves under some pressure with regards to this summer.

The impressive young defender has been a regular figure at the heart of the Gills’ defence this season, and was previously linked with the likes of Southampton, West Ham, Norwich, Leeds, Rangers and Celtic, and his contributions this season may have caught the eye again.

As a result, with Tucker entering the final 12 months of his contract at Gillingham, this could be the club’s final chance to receive what would no doubt be a welcome fee for the defender from a financial perspective, meaning the pressure could be on if interest re-emerges this summer.

Another Gillingham player who has seemingly been attracting attention already this season, is winger Jordan Graham.

The 26-year-old made a loan move to Gillingham permanent last summer following his release from parent club Wolves, and has since scored 11 goals and provided six assists in 34 league appearances for the Gills this season.

Charlton Athletic were apparently one of a number of clubs interested in the signing of Graham in January, and given his form this season, it may not be a surprise if there is interest again in the summer, which could make it tricky for Gillingham to retain his services, depending on where that interest comes from.

Dempsey only joined Gillingham from Fleetwood last summer, but it seems that he too, wasted no time in attracting attention thanks to his performances at Priestfield.

Reports in January claimed that Championship quartet Barnsley, Luton Town, Nottingham Forest and Preston North End were all interested in signing the midfielder, who has scored eight goals and provided five assists in 39 appearances in all competitions for the Gills.

If Gillingham do miss out on promotion this season, then it could be difficult for them to retain the services of Dempsey should that interest in the 25-year-old emerge from the second-tier again, given he may well be keen to get back to playing at that level.

Having joined Gillingham last summer after helping Northampton win promotion from League Two, Oliver has certainly made a big impact at Priestfield.

The centre forward currently leads the clubs scoring ahead of the aforementioned Graham, with 17 goals in 46 appearances in all competitions for the Gills, which is already the best scoring season of his career to date by a considerable margin.

That contribution from the towering striker is something that may not have gone unnoticed from elsewhere in the football pyramid, meaning the 29-year-old is another who it would be no huge surprise to see Gillingham try to fend off interest in.

Gillingham reportedly beat off interest from a Championship club to complete the signing of former Tottenham defender Christian Maghoma last summer – Blackburn Rovers, Middlesbrough and QPR were among those said to be interested.

Since that move however, things have not really worked out in the way that the centre back, or Gillingham, would have wanted, with the centre back having featured just four times in the league for the Gills in an injury hit campaign, being named on the bench a further 11 times.

Given the way things have gone for Maghoma, who has seemingly struggled to make the impression expected of him at Priestfield, you wonder whether he could be one that the Gills look to move along at the end of this season.

Having been released by Stevenage at the end of last season after making just a handful of appearances for the League Two side, Bastien joined Gillingham in January following several weeks on trial with the club.

Since then however, the goalkeeper has yet to make a single appearance for the Gills in any competitions, with Jack Bonham continuing to hold the number one spot between the posts for Steve Evans’ side.

As a result, with Bastien having only signed a deal until the end of the season, and with him yet to get a chance to prove himself in a match situation, it could be hard for the Frenchman to secure a place in the Gills’ squad for the 2021/22 season.

One player who has struggled to make an impression despite being a rather regular feature in Evans’ Gillingham side this season, is Alex MacDonald.

Having joined from League Two Mansfield Town back in the summer transfer window, the winger has managed just one goal and one assist in 32 league appearances for the Gills so this season.

Given you imagine they may feel the need for a greater contribution from those wide areas if they are to compete in whatever division next season, you wonder if MacDonald could be one Gillingham may want to consider moving along this summer, in order to make room for potential new recruits.

Another man who has seemingly struggled to make the required impact at Gillingham this season, is Matty Willock.

The former Manchester United youngster endured a frustrating debut campaign at Priestfield through injury last season, while the current campaign has seen him fail to start a single league game, instead being named on the bench 31 times in League One in 2020/21, being introduced as a substitute on 11 occasions.

Given the midfielder appears to be some way down the pecking order in Evans’ side, it could be argued that with his contract expiring this summer, it may be difficult for Willock to secure a new deal with the club, which could soon leave him a free agent.

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