A year ago, Charlton wanted to negotiate an extended contract with Johann Berg Gudmundsson.

The Icelandic international wanted assurances that the club’s ambitions matched his own before putting pen to paper.

It was perhaps surprising that Gudmundsson agreed a four-year deal relatively quickly. Contracts are never straightforward these days, and there is little doubt the Icelander would have insisted on escape clauses.

That length of contract would have commanded a high salary level, and the club would have wanted to protect their interests by inserting a fee that had to be met before the release clause could be triggered.

Liverpool activated young Joe Gomez’s release clause with a £3,500,000 bid last summer. More recently, Cardiff offered nearly £2,000,000 for Tony Watt. The deal was scuppered when the Bluebirds were hit by a transfer embargo.

Gudmundsson may not have scored as many goals as in his initial season at The Valley, but he did find the net six times and topped the Championship assists chart.

Gudmundsson will leave a huge creative hole to be filled at The Valley, but will he leave? Almost certainly. The player is unlikely to want to play at League One level, and given the League One financial protocol, his wages would put the Addicks in a difficult position.

Whether Charlton can hold out for the fee stipulated in Gudmundsson’s contract seems doubtful.

His financial package at The Valley ensures that the Addicks would have expected to get a higher price than they were willing to accept for Gomez and Watt.

The club have already rejected a £2,000,000 bid from French Ligue 1 outfit, Metz. It is unlikely that Gudmundsson would have fancied the move anyway.

He has the opportunity to raise his profile to a wider audience at the Euros, currently being played in France.

If he stays in England, a top Championship club, or one of the Premier League’s lesser lights, would be his likely destination.

Gudmundsson enjoys London life and would not want to stray too far from the capital.

Midfield is the area that could see the most change during the summer. Gudmundsson and Jordan Cousins are likely to leave, with the futures of El-Hadji Ba, Callum Harriott, Cristian Ceballos and Ademola Lookman look far from certain. There has also been an enquiry for Alou Diarra, and Ahmed Kashi is not short of admirers.

It promises to be another interesting week in SE7. It is always a worry for fans when a deal drags on over the weekend.

Worries that the deal has hit a snag creeps into their minds, so the Valley faithful will want to see the signing of Swindon striker, Nicky Ajose, completed quickly.

Other new arrivals are likely during the week. Russell Slade has concentrated on attacking options thus far, so he may be looking to bring a defender in next. A utility player who can operate at right-back would be a good option.

Rod Fanni and Marco Motta provided the back-up to Chris Solly at the end of last season. With both having left the club, Slade will be looking to boost the right side of his defence.