Blackpool eyeing Charlton Athletic man as potential Josh Bowler replacement | OneFootball

Bowler, 22, has enjoyed an eye-catching first half of the season in the Championship and has been the subject of bids from Nottingham Forest.

The Tangerines are thinking ahead, well aware that they are not able to compete financially with clubs towards the top end of the second tier and have identified Charlie Kirk as someone who could fill the void.

Kirk has had a very disappointing first half of the season since leaving Crewe Alexandra for Charlton Athletic this summer.

The 24-year-old had been instrumental in Crewe’s automatic promotion from League Two in 2019/20 and their impressive 12th placed finish in third tier last season.

Kirk has only managed five league starts for the Addicks this season and has not been involved in any of the last three matchday squads under Johnnie Jackson.

The new manager seems firmly wedded to a 3-5-2 formation of which does not suit Kirk in the slightest, the wide forward has not converted to a wing back role nor has Jackson deployed a number ten position in the system.

With it feeling like the wrong club at the wrong time, despite signing on a four year deal, Blackpool may present a desirable ‘get out of jail free card’ for the 24-year-old.

The Verdict

Quiz: Have each of these 25 ex-Blackpool players ever played in the Premier League?

1 of 25

Daniel Ballard? (Loan)

Yes No

The first half of the season has been an enormous setback in Kirk’s upward trajectory after being first choice at Crewe for such an extended period.

However, though a different style of winger, Kirk is the right profile of player that Blackpool should be looking to bring in.

A player with plenty of resale value and a potential high upside, who would arrive at Bloomfield Road with a point to prove.

Neil Critchley has been able to improve players unrecognisably in the last few years at Blackpool, and the pull of his expertise could appeal to Kirk over the rookie manager in Jackson in place at The Valley.

This is certainly one to keep an eye on with the chain reactions that tend to take place towards the end of January.