Martin Allen is hoping to have a new striker in place by this weekend.

A list of targets have been handed to director of football Andy Hessenthaler and chairman Paul Scally and the pair spent the week liaising with clubs, players and agents.

Gills boss Allen (pictured) is chasing a seasoned frontman to give his side the edge in League 2.

“Hopefully by the weekend we will have another centre-forward arrive,” said the Gills manager.

“We are looking at several, we are talking to several and by the weekend we hope to have a player in place.

“We’ll see what Andy and the chairman have come up with and now it’s a question of seeing if we can get them (targets) over the line.”

Gillingham were reported to be one of several clubs interested in Notts County forward Lee Hughes but wages are likely to be a stumbling block.

He is a top earner at the League 1 club and despite them being open to offers, neither Cheltenham or Oldham have been able to meet County’s demands, let alone the player’s. Allen offered ‘no comment’ when quizzed about the player during the week.

Other names linked to the Gills recently include former Priestfield striker Patrick Agyemang.

Allen is currently receiving in the region of 30 names a day of players who are seeking clubs and the Gills manager has leaned on his backroom staff, friends and family to weed out the gems.

Two French trialists played in the midweek win over Dover. Both, including former Auxerre player Bernard Onagna Itoua, have since been released.

Also training have been former Millwall striker Ben May and ex-Barnet captain Mark Hughes. Neither are expected to be offered a deal.

“We will have a chat with them at the end of the week,” said Allen.

And the Gills boss has no plans to bring in any more new faces on trial now before the season begins.

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