Gillingham are looking into an audacious Deadline Day swoop for Cheltenham striker Alfie May and Shrewsbury’s Aiden O’Brien.
The Gills sit second bottom of the Football League but things look to be on the up under new owner Brad Galinson, who assumed control of the club last month.
The American businessman has already overseen moves for eight new players in January, including Crawley’s Tom Nichols and Exeter’s Timothee Dieng, as the club look to claw themselves away from danger.
Finding the back of the net has proven difficult for the Kent club this season with Gillingham’s 14 league goals the lowest tally of any side in the Football League.
While the signing of Nichols has helped to rectify the lack of goals, manager Neil Harris is still looking to strengthen his forward options before today’s 11pm deadline.
The signing of 29-year-old May would represent quite the coup for the Gills. The striker hit 23 goals in League One last season to make him the division’s joint-third highest scorer.
May has nine goals to his name this season and also scored a memorable opener for Cheltenham in their 3-1 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup in 2021.
Finances could prove a sticking point in this deal with Cheltenham thought to be wanting around £200,000 for his services. Sportsmail understands the deal could be difficult for the Gills to complete at this price.
The move for former Sunderland forward O’Brien seems more likely to be completed. The player is well known to Gillingham’s Director of Football Kenny Jackett, who managed the Irishman during his time as Millwall manager.
Injury has limited O’Brien to only six league appearances for Shrewsbury this season but he will be hoping to recapture the form which saw him score 11 goals during spells with Sunderland and Portsmouth last season.