Got, got, need: Breaking down Gareth Ainsworth’s summer shopping list
After another frustrating campaign, major changes are required to transform an underperforming Gills side into a contender.
One year into Gillingham’s much-talked-about two-year plan, the club sits on the verge of the biggest summer transfer window in recent memory as the decision-makers at the club look to revitalise and reinvent the playing squad into a team of winners.
The first big step was the recognition that the 2025/26 squad wasn’t fit for purpose, and manager Gareth Ainsworth’s comments during the run-in finally revealed to the fanbase that, yes, he could see what the fans could. But the proof of the pudding would be in the club’s retained and released list, as the club engaged in a mass clearout of the playing squad, with several senior players departing Priestfield.
More may still follow, with some of the under-contract players at the club potentially made available for transfer, but given the moves already made by the club, there are clear areas of need that must be addressed before the season gets underway on August 14.
Goalkeepers
GOT: Taite Holtam
NEED: Two senior keepers, including a bona fide starter
After bidding farewell to both Glenn Morris and Jake Turner at the end of the season, signing at least one bona fide senior goalkeeper will be high on Ainsworth’s summer shopping list – and in truth, we probably need two.
Finding someone with the calm composure and quiet leadership of Morris will be a difficult task, and if the club needed to invest some of its budget in transfer fees, using some of that budget to sign a proven stopper would be a shrewd move.
Defenders
GOT: Omar Beckles, Logan Dobbs, Sam Gale, Remeao Hutton, Andy Smith, Harry Webster
NEED: A left-sided, senior centre half, plus a pair of experienced full-backs
The issue with Gillingham’s defensive corps is less about numbers and more about quality. Sam Gale should be a mainstay next season, and it’s likely that Omar Beckles will partner him. Andy Smith is a more than capable League 2 centre half when he’s on his game, but cover at the position is thin.
Midfielder Robbie McKenzie can deputise in the middle of a three, but the club probably needs another big, bad, nasty centre half with plenty of experience, especially if we’re going to be playing three at the back with any regularity next season.
While we need another experienced body at centre half, we arguably need a pair of starters at full back. Max Clark’s release opens up a spot at left back that needs urgent attention, while at right back, Remeao Hutton remains at the club with one more year on his deal. However, given our defensive performances during the past campaign, Ainsworth may look to upgrade on both flanks.
Harry Webster will have benefited from his loan spells at Chatham Town and Ramsgate, and could come into contention, but I’d expect Ainsworth to look to recruit experience on both sides of his defence in a bid to make us a much more solid proposition at the back this season.
Midfielders
GOT: Cam Antwi, Cruz Beszant, Ethan Coleman, Bradley Dack, Nelson Khumbeni, Armani Little, Robbie McKenzie, Harry Waldock
NEED: A solid, experienced, physical holding midfielder
This is possibly the area of the squad that raises the most question marks this summer. In terms of bodies, the squad already looks well stocked with midfield options. But given the fact that the side was consistently second-best in the middle of the park last season, you’d have to imagine that at least one key midfield signing is a must this summer.
Bradley Dack looks set to play another key role, though his minutes are likely to be managed in order to maximise his impact across the full season. That’ll likely mean regular game time for Cam Antwi, who will be like a new signing this season after being struck by injury almost immediately after arriving at ME7.
Of the rest of the existing first-teamers, Armani Little looks like the pro with the highest ceiling. In a season where none of our main midfielders really shone, Little was perhaps guilty of trying too much at times, leading to criticism of his performances. He would definitely benefit from an experienced, solid presence alongside him to free him up to play his natural, box-to-box game.
There are other options in play, with youngster Harry Waldock showing promise on his first-team appearances, while Nelson Khumbeni showed glimpses of his potential in an injury-hit campaign. But in a year where the club is expected to mount a serious challenge, Ainsworth can’t afford to pin his midfield hopes on promise and potential. He needs proven quality, and I’d expect to see at least one senior midfielder come in, and maybe one depart, before the season gets underway.
Forwards
GOT: Louie Dayal, Ronan Hale, Garath McCleary, Seb Palmer-Houlden, Stan Sargent, Damien Theodore
NEED: A seasoned target man to partner Ronan Hale, plus another legitimate finisher and a pacy winger with production
The fans know it, the Galinsons know it, and Gareth Ainsworth certainly knows it – Gillingham simply don’t score enough goals, and it’s high time that issue is properly addressed.
The signing of Ronan Hale in January brought a livewire finisher to the club, but without a strike partner or any sort of service, he struggled to consistently get chances last season. If the club gave Hale a big, strong strike partner (Omar Bugiel wouldn’t be a bad option), Gillingham could well get 15+ league goals out of the Northern Irishman next season.
Another goalscoring striker certainly wouldn’t hurt, too, but they don’t grow on trees. If we can add another finisher to generate some real competition for places, as well as giving Ainsworth options up top, things would look much healthier in attack.
Out wide, the evergreen Garath McCleary is staying on for another year, and he brings real quality to the side whenever he plays (just replay his final-day goal against Shrewsbury). But we need another wide man to provide balance. Former loanee Jonny Smith is available, and we saw what he can do in a Gills shirt. But he won’t be the only option on the market.
Look out, too, for Louie Dayal. He’s impressed in the short time we’ve seen him in the first team, and picked up the Academy Player of the Year award before being given a full pro contract. He’s got something about him that could make him a more than viable impact sub to torment full-backs late in games.