Exclusive: Charlton Athletic backed to seal "real coup" signing but Middlesbrough warning raised | OneFootball

The target netted 19 goals last season for the Tykes.

Charlton Athletic are in a reported battle with Middlesbrough to sign Barnsley forward Davis Keillor-Dunn.

The Championship pair have expressed their interest in the Tykes star, according to a report from the Barnsley Chronicle on Friday.

Both clubs have not long handed out new managerial contracts. While Boro's was for their new boss Rob Edwards, following the sacking of Michael Carrick, the Addicks gave Nathan Jones a new five-year deal after he secured their return to the second tier.

It's going to be a challenge for them to stay up in the Championship given the competitiveness of the division, but an addition like Keillor-Dunn, who has directly contributed 41 goals and 17 assists over the past two seasons in League One and League Two.

Charlton may struggle in Championship battle for Keillor-Dunn

Because Charlton are likely to be towards the lower end of the division next time out, Don Goodman believes that he may be tempted more by a move to a team like Middlesbrough, who are expected to be at least in the top half of the division next time out.

The Sky Sports pundit exclusively told Football League World: "Charlton Athletic are in competition with a host of others. You would think on the surface of it that Charlton will be playing to survive in the Championship next season. There's no doubt if they could somehow convince him that that was the right move, if indeed he leaves Barnsley, then he would be a real coup for them.

"But the competition is fierce. If the likes of Middlesbrough, one or two others are in for him, he's possibly going to have a better opportunity at plying his trade at the top end of the Championship rather than somewhere in the middle or towards the bottom."

Charlton have mainly been linked with defensive targets so far this summer. Two centre-backs - Akin Famewo and Amadou Mbengue - are said to be on Jones' watchlist. They were also offered the opportunity to sign West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, but the Addicks chose not to pursue the Polish shot-stopper.

Charlton must focus attention on attacking reinforcements

At the back was where Charlton's strengths mostly lay last season. Matty Godden was their premier goalscorer, but his recent record in the Championship isn't outstanding. He scored 15 goals in his last two seasons with Coventry City before being bought by the Addicks.

Keillor-Dunn has never played at that level, in fairness, but his transition from the fourth to the third tier certainly justifies a move up to the next level for him this summer.