Gillingham have been linked with a move for a former player - but fans aren’t overjoyed.

Weekend rumours of possible interest from the Gills in bringing defender Jack Tucker back to the club were sparked by respected journalist Alan Nixon, who suggested it could be on the cards.

Tucker, now 23, moved to MK Dons last summer and was a regular starter for them during the 2022/23 campaign, making 38 league appearances, but ended tasting relegation as his side failed to win their final game, leading to them finishing fourth from bottom. Their head coach Mark Jackson was promptly sacked.

It was Jackson’s predecessor Liam Manning who signed Tucker in June last year, ending the defender’s long association with the Gills, a club he had been with since the age of eight. He had played over 100 league game for his boyhood side.

But a potential move for Tucker wasn’t entirely popular among fans on social media, with the majority in the “no thanks” camp as they responded to the speculation. The Dons paid the Gills a compensation fee for the player just a year ago.

The Gills were linked with another of their old defenders, Deji Oshilaja, in January.

Central defensive cover isn’t a major issue for the Gills. Max Ehmer and Conor Masterson was the mainstay pairing at the back, with Will Wright as cover. A host of others can play there, including midfielder Tim Dieng and striker Oli Hawkins.

Gillingham manager Neil Harris hopes to build a competitive squad over the summer and will have funds to do so. He’s currently waiting on whether midfielder Alex MacDonald and left-back David Tutonda will agree new terms. Young midfielder Josh Chambers has also been offered an extended deal.

The Gills are also keen on keeping forward Aiden O’Brien, who came in on loan from Shrewsbury but injury forced him out of the reckoning for the latter stages of the season.

Harris was also due to make a decision on his other left-back, Lewis Page, last week. The club’s retained list needs to be submitted by the end of this week.