Charlton Athletic close in on transfer agreement which could hand boost to likes of QPR and Middlesbrough | OneFootball

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Football League World

·15 June 2021

Charlton Athletic close in on transfer agreement which could hand boost to likes of QPR and Middlesbrough

Charlton Athletic are closing in on the signing of Preston North End striker Jayden Stockley, according to a report from Hampshire Live.

Stockley, 27, was previously set for a move to Portsmouth after the Lilywhites and Pompey agreed a deal for the former Exeter City forward to come to Fratton Park.


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However, with the 27-year-old spending last season on loan at The Valley and Nigel Adkins’ side moving in quickly to retain him, the south London side look to have beaten their League One rivals to this signing.

This would give the Addicks three top quality striking options in Stockley, Conor Washington and Chuks Aneke. However, with the latter’s contract running out this summer, previously interested sides in the Championship are on red alert as Stockley looks set to rejoin his former loan club.

According to a TEAMTalk exclusive at the start of the month, more than half a dozen second tier sides are interested in Aneke, including Middlesbrough, Reading, Queens Park Rangers and Bristol City and Coventry.

In the same report, clubs in Scotland and America are also interested in the former Arsenal player, but none of the interested sides look to be close to securing his signature just yet.

The Verdict

With three brilliant attacking players that could help Charlton to return to the Championship if Stockley joins, Nigel Adkins could be keen to keep hold of the trio even if that means there is extra pressure on their wage bill.

According to the manager last week, all out-of-contract players want to remain at The Valley including Aneke. However, it would be difficult to include all three in the starting lineup and the forward could be tempted to move on if his playing time is limited by his two competitors.

At 27, a move to the Championship now could give Aneke a better chance of playing in the Premier League in future. However, the temptation of banging in goals in a lower division could be tempting for the forward, who may then attract interest from the top flight if he carries last season’s form into the 2021/22 campaign.

To potentially lose out on a free deal for such a potent attacker would be gutting for interested clubs in the Championship, but their loss will be Charlton’s gain.

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