North East duo, Sunderland and Middlesbrough, look doomed. The Black Cats have flirted with relegation for several seasons, and Boro look destined to make a swift return to the Championship.
Boro’s fate will be a huge disappointment to local boy owner, Steve Gibson, who spent seven years trying to return his club to the top flight.
Another of last season’s promoted clubs, Hull, look to be in a straight shoot out with Swansea for the final relegation place.
The Tigers looked dead and buried at one point, but have staged a remarkable recovery since Marco Silva took over as manager.
They currently sit two points ahead of Swansea with four games left to play.
The third of the promoted teams, Burnley, are five points clear of Swansea with a vastly superior goal difference.
Still work to be done, but Sean Dyche’s side should retain their status. If they do, it has significant implications for the Addicks.
Dyche’s first buys last summer were Charlton duo, Johann Berg Gudmundsson and keeper Nick Pope.
Pope has played in four cup games for the Clarets but has yet to make his Premier League bow.
Gudmundsson on the other hand, has made ten starts and seven substitute appearances, scoring one goal in the league.
Pope’s deal could be worth more than £1m, while Gudmundsson went for a fee of around £2.5m plus add ons.
Burnley were one of the favourites to go down, but if as now seems likely they survive, it will have have a silver lining for the Addicks.
One of the add on clauses means a bonus – thought to be a seven figure sum – will be paid to Charlton if the Clarets stay up.
With the money sloshing about in the Premier League, it is not a huge amount, but it is a significant sum for a League One side looking to rebuild for the 2017/18 campaign.
TAGS: Charlton Athletic