GILLINGHAM may have to raise their bid to £500,000 if they want to meet Cambridge’s valuation of striker Dave Kitson.

Having had an initial offer of £200,000 turned down, Gillingham returned with an improved one of £300,000 which the Cambridge board are considering.

Privately, the cash-strapped Division 3 club are hoping to raise £500,000 from the sale of Kitson who turns 24 next month.

Roger Hunt, the Cambridge vice-chairman confirmed: “We do not want to sell Dave Kitson, that’s the main thing because we don’t want our best players leaving the club.

“However, we have received a bid from Gillingham for Dave which does not meet our valuation. However, talks are on-going.

“I have done business before with the Gillingham chairman Paul Scally and remember him as a tough negotiator following the sale to Steve Butler to Priestfield in 1995.”

Hitchin-born Kitson, whom Cambridge signed from non-league Arlesey in March, 2001, is thought to favour a move to Gillingham and with it the challenge of testing himself at a far higher level.

He was Cambridge’s top scorer with 25 goals in all competitions last season when he also collected the club’s Player of the Year award.

Gills manager Andy Hessenthaler said: "We're looking at lots of options at the moment, but we're still hoping that we can bring Kitson to Priestfied.

"We like him and he's still only young. He hasn't played at this level but then neither had Marlon King when he came to Gillingham, and we all know how well he did.

"We see Dave Kitson as having the potential to play a big part in the future of this football club and that's why we're keen to bring him here."

Hessenthaler also disclosed that Gillingham could sign another goalkeeper in time for the busy Christmas period. Frenchman Bertrand Bossu was set to make his second full appearance for the club before Saturday's match at Nottingham Forest fell victim to a waterlogged pitch.

He was ready to deputise for injured first choice Jason Brown who is expected to be out for three weeks with a thigh strain.

Hessenthaler confirmed: "There could be something happening on the goalkeeper front next week.

"What I don't want to do is keep throwing names around and getting people's hopes up. All I will say is that we're working hard to try and bring a couple of new faces to the club."

Hessenthaler confirmed that midfielder Nicky Southall, under fire from sections of Gillingham supporters, has had an ankle problem for the past four weeks and was left out of Saturday's side.

"Nicky will have a scan on the ankle because it's giving him a lot of grief. Hopefully it will show that it's not too bad and he will be back in a couple of weeks."

Meanwhile, Hessenthaler's brother-in-law, Darren Hare has had a change of heart and decided to remain as Gillingham's Head of Youth. He was due to leave the club next month but was persuaded to stay by Hessenthaler and club coach Wayne Jones.

Gillingham supporters are reminded that the Boxing Day home game against Watford kicks-off at 3pm, as does the derby at Millwall on Sunday, December 28.