Gillingham are still hoping to be at the front of the queue when Max Ehmer becomes available.

The 23-year-old QPR defender is understood to be in talks with his current club about securing a release from his contract that has another year to run.

That could be concluded any time now.

It would mean that the Gills can then offer him a deal to return him to Priestfield on a permanent basis.

Ehmer impressed last season while on loan, making 29 appearances during a six-month spell at the club.

His signing would be a major coup for Gills boss Justin Edinburgh, who has been waiting patiently for news from Loftus Road since the end of the season.

“We would like to bring him back to the club on a permanent basis,” Edinburgh confirmed, when speaking to the Messenger on Wednesday.

“You have to be patient and sensible and a big thing for me as a manager is that we want value for money.”