KSN understands Gillingham goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga and midfielder Jack Payne are on the verge of leaving the club.

Rumours have surrounded the future of Gazzaniga after it was revealed a number of Premier League clubs were tracking him, with Southampton believed to be one of those trying to secure his services.

The 20 year old was signed on a two year deal after being released by Valencia last summer and The Gills are believed to be looking to cash in on the Argentinian shot-stopper.

Meanwhile, midfielder Jack Payne could also be heading for the exit door with a number of clubs having watched him over the past couple of seasons.

The 20 year old holding midfielder has put in some outstanding performances for The Gills since making his debut for the club as a sixteen year old in October 2008.

Since then, he has made a total of 92 apperances for Gillingham, scoring four times in the process and has been linked with a move to Championship side Peterborough United, however KSN understands another Championship club have shown an interest with a Premier League side believed to have held talks already.

Speaking to Talksport about the chance of two of his younger members of his squad leaving, Gillingham manager Martin Allen, speaking from the club’s training camp in Le Touquet, admitted Director of Football, Andy Hessenthaler had been busy working on two players leaving the club:

“Andy’s been really helpful to me. He’s back home in England trying to sign some players. We’ve had a few enquiries and some deals that have nearly been done with higher division clubs to take our players, especially some of our younger players.”

“Andy is working very hard at the ground with the Chairman on those deals and I’m lucky enough to be away training the players, which is great.”

“We’ve been dependant waiting for these deals to be done, one’s to a Premier League club, one’s to a Championship club for two very, very good young players that are here. They haven’t happened up to this moment and it’s not worth us, in our strategy to go and recruit players until either we get the money in, where we can perhaps sign better players, or if we don’t get the money in, then we will perhaps have to settle for a little bit less.”

Allen went on to state that his team’s chances of making it into League One could well hinge on being able to ship players out to release the funds to bring other players in:

“If you’ve got money, and you can sign good players and pay good wages, then generally your team finishes higher up the league, that’s a fact.”

“Notts County last year were carrying a very big squad, many of whom were on high wages and we had to get through until the end of the season for that squad to be reshaped and we started last summer with players on a lot less money and I think it’s been well documented that the lads I brought in did very, very well.”

“Here now, we’ve got some very, very good young, talented players and we’re talking a lot of money and if that comes in over the next two or three weeks, Premier League clubs and Championship clubs want to buy them. We’ve had offers accepted, but the deals haven’t gone through and my budget changes completely.”

“If these deals go through, I can really strengthen the starting eleven and that would make a significant difference. If we don’t, then it will be a challenge for the play-offs. If we do get that money in, we’ll have the budget to challenge to go right to the top.”

Summing up his time at the club so far, Allen said he was happy with the way things were going:

“It’s lovely, the players have been really good. I’ve really enjoyed working with the squad. I’ve brought in my staff and I’ve got some young players come into the squad, but we’re still trying to find some new players for the first team for next year.”

“When you’re away like this, there’s no pressure, there’s no hassle, because there are no results and our job is dependant on results, of course, so it’s a nice time of year for us.”

So, it seems both Gazzaniga and Payne could well have played their last games for the club. It could be just a matter of time before their transfers are announced.

Once that happens, the rumours will then start as to who is coming to Priestfield.