A new deal for Gills defender John Egan will be at the front of manager Justin Edinburgh’s mind when pre-season begins.

Tentative talks have already taken place but have now been put on hold while the player takes his summer break back home in Ireland.

Gillingham report back for duty at the end of June and Edinburgh will hope to get the 22-year-old tied down to a long-term deal before the season begins.

Last season’s player-of-the-year Egan has a year left of his current deal.

Gills boss Edinburgh said: “It has been discussed but that is something that will be hopefully concluded when John returns from holiday.

“The talks I had with John and his representative were positive.”

Egan has become a key man for the Gills since signing last summer on a free, following his release from Sunderland.

Championship sides were already interested in his signature then and another season like the last will make him highly sought-after.

Edinburgh insists it’s something he is keen to get wrapped up soon.

He said: “It is not a case of it not being high on the agenda, it is high.

“We want to secure him for longer-term but it will be something that once we get back in for pre-season, it gets under way. Hopefully, we can announce something sooner rather than later.”