ANDY HESSENTHALER today moved to scotch transfer speculation linking top scorer Marlon King with a move to Tottenham or Charlton ahead of tomorrow's transfer deadline.

Responding to a national newspaper story stating that the two Premier League clubs were leading the race to sign 19-goal King, the Gills boss said: "I would like to assure our supporters that I have had no contact with either of those clubs. No Premiership club has contacted me about Marlon in the past couple of days. We have had general inquiries in the past about him but nothing more."

He added: "Naturally there is a lot of interest in talented players just before deadline, plus a lot of speculation. But it would need a massive offer to tempt us to part with Marlon."

Watching events closely between now and tomorrow's 5pm deadline will be King's former club Barnet, now members of the Nationwide Conference. When they sold the 21-year-old to Gillingham for £250,000 in June 2000, a 30 per cent sell on clause was inserted into the deal.

Gillingham are believed to a slapped a £5 million asking price on King.