Charlton still have plenty of business they want to do before the summer transfer window slams shut at 11.00pm on Wednesday.
Contracts are complex and time consuming these days, and trying to complete several deals in a short timescale puts enormous pressure on back room staff at clubs throughout the country.
The Addicks would like to move El-Hadji Ba and Jorge Teixeira on. Teixeira still has four years to run on his contract, while Ba has two. Finding them clubs has been difficult, but hopefully something can be sorted before Wednesday.
It was thought that Russell Slade wanted to introduce two new faces to his squad, but at his post match press conference on Saturday, the manager revealed he was hopeful of adding three more players to his squad.
The departure of Tareiq Holmes-Dennis to Huddersfield has triggered the need to bring another player in.
Slade talked of a ‘left sided player’, so it could be that he is looking to bring in a left sided midfield player rather than a left-back.
Slade said this move was ‘very close’, which could indicate it will be the first of the deals to be announced.
It would be a surprise if the manager did not add another central midfielder to his squad, with Norwich’s Louis Thompson looking the hot favourite.
It is possible that Slade may bring two central midfielders in, but with Lee Novak’s ongoing hand injury problems, he could opt for another striker.
As well as juggling his squad, Slade has a Checkatrade Trophy match against Southampton at The Valley on Tuesday to prepare for. The manager will have to decide which players to rest. Johnnie Jackson will not be involved, and Dillon Phillips is set to make his debut.
One other piece of business that could happen this week is a current player is set to pen a new deal.
Once the hurly-burly of the transfer window is finished on Wednesday, Slade will have a ten day respite before his team travel to Fleetwood on 10 September. How different might that team be to the one that faced Bolton on Saturday?
TAGS: Charlton Athletic