Gills boss showed interest in Jones

Steve Evans has revealed the areas he wants to strengthen but admits one player he admired has already signed for a fellow League 1 team.

The Gills manager had a tentative discussion with Crewe midfielder James Jones before the 24-year-old opted to sign a three-year deal with Lincoln City. “The deal was done before I could pick up the phone a second time,” Evans admitted.

“Michael Appleton (the Lincoln manager) has got himself an outstanding young player.”

Talks with potential new signings are under way but no formal offers are able to be made until the Gills have a clear understanding of when they will resume football.

Potential start dates of August 29 or September 12 have been put to clubs by the EFL and there is expected to be a vote on the preferred one.

Evans will be hoping to add “seven or eight” permanent signings, he said, along with five loan players.

The Gills have Barry Fuller and Lee Hodson still on the payroll but Evans wants fresh players in the right side of defence.

“We need to strengthen in the right full-back position,” he said.

“We are very good in central defence, particularly if our captain (Max Ehmer) stays. If he doesn’t we are after another centre back anyway and I have someone coming in on loan.

“We need a bit of creativity, certainly out wide, and we need to strengthen at the top end.

“Defensively we were outstanding but the frustrating thing from last season is that we would dominate a lot and draw a game. We dominated totally at AFC Wimbledon and lost the game.”

Evans has offered youngster Toby Bancroft a third-year scholarship.

Gillingham boss Steve Evans is in talks with a number of players