Gillingham linked with move for New Zealand defender George Stanger from Ayr United and free agent Dion Pereira after his release by Luton Town

Gillingham are being linked with a move for a New Zealand international defender from Scotland.

The Daily Record reports that the Gills remain keen on signing Ayr United defender George Stanger, who is set to become available as a free agent.

Stanger, a 6ft 3in centre-half, was also linked to the Gills in January, but with his contract up this summer, that will make things easier.

Ayr’s season in the Scottish Championship ended with a play-off defeat to Partick Thistle on Friday which Stanger missed through injury.

The Gills were strong defensively this season, with one of the best records in the division, but there will be room in the squad for another centre-back following Max Ehmer’s departure, and there’s uncertainty over others with no retained list yet published.

Stanger’s mother is from New Zealand, and the Scottish-born player has represented the Kiwis at youth level and the 2020 Olympics.

He came through as a junior at Hamilton where he made a handful of SPL appearances before spells at Dumbarton, Alloa Athletic and most recently Ayr United.

Stanger isn’t the first Scottish defender to be of interest to the Gills. They were keen on bringing Jack Sanders to the club from St Johnstone in the January transfer window, but the 24-year-old moved to MK Dons instead, and Gillingham eventually signed Andy Smith on loan from Hull City.

Two years ago the Gills had been keen on making a move for Ayr striker Dipo Akinyemi after his 24-goal haul during the 2022/23 season in Scotland’s second tier but the former Welling United forward eventually moved to National League side York City.

Free agent winger Dion Pereira, meanwhile, has also been linked with a move to the Gills following a decent season personally on loan with