A new contract for Gillingham’s talented young defender Jack Tucker hasn’t stopped the interest.

West Ham boss David Moyes left Priestfield on Sunday full of praise for the 20-year-old after their 2-0 FA Cup win and Gills manager Steve Evans has been taking calls from other managers too.

Tucker traded shirts with West Ham striker Sebastien Haller at the end of the third round tie after competing well against the Frenchman who cost the London side a club record £45m in the summer from Eintracht Frankfurt.

Evans said: “David Moyes thought he was outstanding. He said he liked the boy and when I said he was only 20 he couldn’t believe it.”

The Gills were offered big money for the defender from a Championship side - thought to be nearing the seven figure mark - but the offer was turned down.

Instead a new deal was agreed with the defender, who was only on a one-year contract after being close to leaving for nothing in the summer.

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The length of deal wasn’t revealed, with Tucker recently commenting that the contract would “take care of me for the next couple of years.”

Evans said at the time of the formal written offer that they had received considerable interest and Sunday's big FA Cup match against the Hammers has helped put Tucker back in the spotlight.

The Gills boss said: “Managers who had not previously contacted me about Jack Tucker, were calling.

“I have had three managers ring me and say ‘tell me about Tucker.’”

Evans has already said they don’t need to sell but the club won’t be in a position to say no if the offers keep coming.

In the meantime, the manager just hopes to see the player keep doing what he’s doing, saying: “He has to keep progressing. I think there is a direct comparison for Gills fans, I can’t make it, I never came up against John Egan but they tell me he was exceptional, very good.

"He left the club at 24 and Jack has just turned 20. There is a four year age gap and you can imagine Tucker in four years.

“I can’t make the comparison but some say Tucker is better now. He is quite vocal in the dressing room, in a positive way, and we love having him around.”