Charlton Athletic news: New Luton Town raid eyed, ex-Galatasaray man wanted | OneFootball

FLW brings you all the latest news from Charlton Athletic.

Charlton Athletic are gearing up for their first season in the second tier since the 2019/20 term.

The Addicks secured promotion via the League One play-offs back in May, securing a 1-0 victory against fellow London club Leyton Orient at Wembley.

With Nathan Jones remaining at the helm after signing a new contract despite links to the Cardiff City job following their relegation to the third tier, the club are aiming to give a good account of themselves in the Championship this term, with Jones recently reiterating his dream of taking the club to the Premier League.

With this in mind, FLW brings you all the latest news from The Valley.

Charlton interested in defender after Galatasaray exit

Alongside Millwall and Preston North End, Charlton are said to be interested in Dutch defender Mathias Ross following the cancellation of his contract at Galatasaray.

The 24-year-old is available after his contract at Galatasaray was cancelled by mutual consent earlier this month - a year before it was due to expire.

Charlton, Millwall, and Preston have all made approaches to sign the centre-back following his departure from the Turkish giants, as per Football Insider.

Ross joined Galatasaray from his hometown club Aalborg BK for a fee in the region of £1.5 million in 2022, although he never featured in the Turkish Süper Lig before being released this summer, with his only two appearances coming in the early rounds of the Türkiye Kupasi during the year of his arrival.

Dutch side NEC Nijmegen paid around £215,000 to take Ross on loan during the 2023/24 season, and he spent last season on loan at Sparta Prague in the Czech Republic.

Ross played against Atlético Madrid in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League for Sparta Prague last term, but they chose not to make the move permanent for around £1 million this summer.

Ross may have been hoping to finally get a chance at Galatasaray following his loan spells at NEC Nijmegen and Sparta Prague, but it now seems as though he could be spending next season in the Championship instead.

Charlton boasted an excellent defensive record as they won promotion from League One via the play-offs last season, and working with Nathan Jones in the Championship could be beneficial for Ross as a young defender looking to establish himself as a key player in a first-team squad.

The Addicks have recently been linked with Luton Town centre-back Reece Burke, while they have already added to their defensive options with the signing of Amari'i Bell, so it is clear that strengthening at the back is a priority at The Valley this summer.

Charlton plot another Luton Town raid

Richard Cawley has reported that The Addicks are working towards a deal with the recently relegated League One side for Burke, who made just 17 Championship appearances for Luton last season, due in part to a quad injury which took him out of action for over three months.

Nathan Jones' side have been active in the summer window as they prepare for a first season back in the Championship after five consecutive years in the third tier, already securing the services of Sonny Carey and Tanto Olaofe, two of the top-performing League One players last term.

Alongside those two, though, Charlton have been doing some shopping at Jones' former club, and Burke could be set to be the third Luton player to make the switch to the Valley after Thomas Kaminski and Amari'i Bell also made the move this summer.

The 28-year-old has spent four seasons at Kenilworth Road after being brought to Luton by Nathan Jones from Hull City in 2021. His time at Luton has been a real rollercoaster, having been involved in two play-off campaigns, one promotion, and two relegations.

Various injuries have slowed his momentum at Luton, with him playing more than 25 league games only once in his four years at the club. However, when available, he has been a mainstay in the Hatters' backline.

Addicks announce contract extensions

Macaulay Gillesphey and Micah Mbick have both extended their deals with the club as they prepare for life back in the Championship.

29-year-old centre-back Gillesphey missed just two matches last season, and scored the free-kick which settled the Addicks' League One play-off final against Leyton Orient. His old terms were due to run until 2026, but included a club option. The new contract expires in 2027, with the club yet again able to activate a further 12 months.

As per Charlton's official website, Gillesphey said: "I'm really pleased. I feel that the club's going in the right direction, and I've enjoyed every minute so far. Getting promoted through the play-offs was an incredible experience."

"I've just started a family here, and we feel like it's home. We're settled, so extending my time here is important to us, and we're buzzing. I just can't wait to get going with the new season at The Valley in front of all our fans again."

Manager Jones added: "We're really delighted to extend Macualay's contract given his work, the way that he's grown into our team and the impact he's had."

'We believe in him. It's going to be a challenge next year, and he knows that. He has to step his levels up, and since I've come to the football club, he has stepped his levels up week in, week out."

Elsewhere, 18-year-old Micah Mbick, who joined the Addicks’ academy at U10 level, has put pen to paper on a deal that runs until the summer of 2028, with a club option of an additional year.

"He has a wonderful profile," said Jones. "A good size, good pace, good power, and he's come through this wonderful academy again, so we're really delighted to have secured him, and we're excited about what he can bring."

The youngster outlined how pleased he is to continue working with the Welsh coach: "It's great to have a manager that trusts you. Working with him, there is always high intensity and high demands, and he really just pushed me to get to a higher level."

A memorable promotion book being prepared

On Monday at 10 pm, Addicks supporters had their last chance to get their names in a special book commemorating Charlton's return to the Championship, titled: "We Are Championship. The Story of the 2024/25 Season".

An announcement on the club's official website stated: "We Are Championship. The Story of the 2024/25 Season takes supporters through Charlton's memorable campaign, and that glorious day at Wembley when the Addicks won the Sky Bet League One play-off final."

"Covering every game of that epic season, all the way through to clinching promotion with victory over Leyton Orient at Wembley, and the celebrations that followed, this 200-page book takes you behind the scenes and tells you all you need to know - and remember - about the 2024/25 campaign."

"With exclusive interviews with members of the men's first-team squad, this is the inside story of just how Charlton ended five seasons of exile and booked their return to the Championship."

The club revealed that all supporters who pre-ordered the book before Monday's deadline had the option to have their name published in the advance subscriber pages in the back of the book, offering a lovely, memorable touch following the conclusion of a fantastic campaign at The Valley.