Clubs chasing striker Eaves
GERRARD LINKED WITH 14-GOAL TA LISMAN
Gillingham’s leading scorer Tom Eaves is attracting toplevel interest.
The striker has been in talks with the Gills over a new deal but as yet no agreement has been reached.
Eaves is out of contract in the summer and could walk away for nothing.
Scottish Premiership giants Rangers have been heavily linked with the Liverpool-born striker this week, joining a list of potential suitors.
Rangers are managed by former Livepool and England midfielder Steven Gerrard.
Hibs, Millwall, Rotherham, Blackburn and Preston are also reported to be interested.
The 26-year-old is League 1’s leading scorer, netting his 13th goal of the season on Saturday in an impressive 2- 0 win at Scunthorpe.
Among his goals this season was a stunning strike against Portsmouth, one that will have caught the eye of any watching scout.
Eaves has just six months left on his two-year deal, having signed on a free transfer during Ady Pennock’s reign.
He finished last season as Gillingham’s leading scorer with 18 goals, including hattricks against Southend and Plymouth.
Eaves is on course to smash that total, having hit 14 in all competitions already, with the season not halfway through.
Gills boss Steve Lovell has been outspoken at the treatment dished out to his striker by defenders in recent weeks and the lack of protection from officials. He used the frontman differently at Scunthorpe last weekend because of it.
He said: “We isolated Tom Eaves on purpose on the other side of the pitch.
“We’re finding that when we hit Tom all the time, it’s a battle and a fight and Tom never gets any free-kicks.
“So we’re hitting Josh Parker or Elliott List, who are good in the air, and then Tom comes and gets the second ball. Tom hardly got into a fight. We want him to (avoid) that and play the game that we know he can.
“He took his goal brilliantly. It was important for us to get that when we did.
“He’s come up with another goal. It’s not a tap-in – I wish he’d get a tap-in! – but it’s a shame he missed a penalty as he would have been on 14 (league) goals this year and that’s a tremendous return for the games that he’s played.”
Gills could still be without Brandon Hanlan ( hand) this weekend for their home game against Wycombe but Lovell is unlikely to replace a front three that tore into the Iron last week.
Lovell said: “Tom Eaves could have had two in the first half, the one that came across the goal and another one that bounced off him.
“Elliot had a good chance, Josh had a good chance and we could have gone in 4-0 up at half-time. It was an excellent performance.”
Gills are likely to be without defender Max Ehmer after he disclocated his shoulder at Scunthorpe.