Gillingham are braced for heightened interest in star man Bradley Dack.

Speculation over the future of last season’s young player-of-the-year has been growing, with several clubs linked with the 23-year-old this summer.

Blackburn Rovers are the latest club to have shown interest.

Dack may not have reached the performance levels that he did during the previous season – where he was named League 1’s best player – but he is still very much in demand.

Head coach Ady Pennock is a big fan and would love to see the player stay.

When asked to comment on recent speculation, he said: “I’m not surprised. He is a talented boy and I would be happy if nothing happens – I would be happy if he stayed here.

“If something does happen and someone comes in with X, Y and Z, then I don’t think as a club we can stand in his way but it has to be right for this club and it has to be right for Bradley.”

Gillingham's fixtures are out - see where and when the Gills will be next season

In January 2016, the Gills rejected three separate bids from Championship side Bristol City. At the time, the club were chasing automatic promotion from League 1.

City attempted to lure Dack away with a £2million offer – double what they first tabled – but the Gills refused to budge. With a dip in form since then and just a year left on his contract, the club are unlikely to attract such a substantial bid.

It should, however, come close to meeting Gillingham’s budget commitments. Last season chairman Paul Scally

revealed that the club factor in player sales of half a million poundsRead the full story in Thursday's Medway Messenger newspaper

every year.