Gillingham are in talks with some of their loan players over permanent deals.

While manager Neil Harris didn’t name names, QPR defender Conor Masterson is sure to be one of those the club are looking to keep.

Masterson, 24, is out of contract with the R’s this summer and has twice enjoyed successful loan spells at the club under Harris.

The centre-half first joined the Gills last season, just before Harris arrived in January 2022. He went onto become an ever-present and was signed again in the last transfer window, once more nailing down a regular spot in the heart of the defence.

Joining the Gills on a permanent basis from QPR would be replicating the move his centre-half partner Max Ehmer made in 2015 after he too made a positive impression, initially on loan.

Shrewsbury Town’s forward Aiden O’Brien is another player Harris is a big fan of. Injury cut short his involvement this season.

Another front-man the Gills have on loan is Tristan Abrahams, from Eastleigh. Ten of his 12 appearances have come off the bench. Lincoln City’s Hakeeb Adelakun has barely featured since the turn of the year, when performances and results have picked up.

With Ehmer, Cheye Alexander, Shaun Williams, Glenn Morris and Robbie McKenzie committing to new deals, Harris has his eye on keeping more of this season’s team, with the club in negotiations with “a few others.”

Harris said: “There are some important players in there that we want to get done, some of the loan lads have been absolutely terrific for us that we would like to keep, they are important as well.

“There is a lot more business for us to do, as we know. To keep Glenn, Shaun and Robbie, it was good news for us as a group, three players who have performed admirably in a difficult season.

“Some of the loan lads have done really well. You take loan players and they are not all going to work, we saw that first half of the season in particular, but it is natural that if you sign five loan players, if you get two or three that do well for us, it is a really good return.

“We will monitor those situations and try and tie those deals up, but then the importance of Andy Hessenthaler (head of recruitment) and Kenny Jackett (director of football) in particular, they have been at a lot of games recently, at different levels, and watching a lot of players, talking to a lot of agents and some players at the right time and football clubs at the right time to maybe purchase their players.

“We are trying to do more with players in the building, permanent or loans from the lads who have been here and we are going to add to the group with quality from outside as well. There is a real buzz about the place.”

Alex MacDonald, meanwhile, remains in talks.

Harris said: “Alex, it is very close, I have talked openly that I would love Macca to stay, Macca wants to stay. It has to be right for all parties, the club have to get the level of contract right and then Macca has to do what is best for him and his beautiful family. That is contract negotiations, and talks are ongoing.

“There is nothing confirmed and nothing decided negatively either. We want to keep Alex and Alex wants to stay so it is just finding that common ground that suits everyone.”