Gillingham forwards Jordan Graham and John Akinde were both reportedly targetted on transfer deadline day.

Charlton Athletic were understood to have attempted to lure exciting winger Graham away from Priestfield while Southend United showed interest in Akinde, having landed midfielder Jacob Mellis.

The Gills were hoping to have captured a striker themselves but had to make do with just the one signing on deadline day, bringing in midfielder James Morton from Bristol City.

Manager Steve Evans had hoped to sign a striker and wide player in a bid to make a charge for the League 1 play-offs.

His team are on form, however, and barring any injury problems look to have a team that are capable of competing, having just taken a point from Sunderland in a game they did enough to win.

Graham, with eight goals and six assists from his 24 appearances this season, is the team’s star man. He will be a key asset for the Gills if they want to gatecrash the play-off places this season.

Akinde has been used as a substitute more times than he has started games in League 1 but he showed on Saturday how useful he can be, winning the header to create an opportunity that led to the equaliser against Sunderland. He is playing second fiddle to Vadaine Oliver at present but the Gills have few other options upfront. Both Graham and Olly Lee have partnered Oliver up top in recent weeks while Tyreke Johnson can also play there.

The window for deals might now be closed but free agents can still be signed should the Gills wish to bring anyone else in before now and the end of the season.

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