Gillingham boss Steve Lovell wants to keep Wigan loanee Leo Da Silva Lopes at the club long-term

By: Luke Cawdell lcawdell@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 00:00, 26 March 2019

Updated: 13:44, 27 September 2019

Leo Da Silva Lopes is a player high on Steve Lovell’s summer wishlist.

The Gillingham manager is already looking ahead to next season and has had tentative talks with Wigan Athletic about making Lopes’ stay with the Gills permanent.

Midfielder Lopes was one of Gills’ standout performer at the weekend, making one goal and scoring another in a 4-2 win over AFC Wimbledon.

Leo Da Silva Lopes was pivotal in Saturday's win at AFC Wimbledon Picture: Ady Kerry

Lovell said: “He is a lovely young man and with the ability where he can do whatever he wants in the game. He is another one we would like to keep at the club.

“I have already had a bit of a chat with them (Wigan) but we will see.

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“The first thing is to get this season out of the way and finish as high as we can, and we will see where we go for next year.”

Lopes signed on loan for the remainder of the season at the end of the January transfer window and has now made nine appearances for the Gills.

But Lovell admitted that the 20-year-old almost found himself out of the squad after a lack of form.

A pep-talk from the Gills boss appears to have done the trick.

“Sometimes youngsters need to have a little reality check,” Lovell said.

“Last week he wasn’t going to play, he was out of the squad completely, but then overnight he plays against Luton.

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“It was an opportunity to show what he could do. He will learn and he has done. Last week he was excellent and on Saturday he was even better.

“Hopefully he will take that on in his career as he goes on and have me to thank for that! You sometimes have to let people know that they have a talent but they have to work on it.”

Victory over AFC Wimbledon leaves the Gills well-positioned to secure their safety and the quicker that’s done, the quicker Lovell can turn his attentions to bettering their prospects.

It’s something the manager is already working on.

He said: “We have already got lists and lists of players we would like to talk to and perhaps bring onboard but the summer is going to be very busy.

“(We have) the ones we want to keep here who are out of contract and the ones we will bring in if we don’t keep the ones we are trying to keep.

“There is a lot of work to be done but it is part of the job and one I enjoy.”