10-goal Charlton Athletic star warned of Championship "struggle" - He was once linked to Chelsea & Brentford | OneFootball

FLW's Charlton fan pundit has been discussing the future of Miles Leaburn, who not long ago was being linked to Chelsea and Brentford.

This article is part of Football League World's Terrace Talk series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Nathan Jones has been wasting no time getting to work on improving his Charlton Athletic side in the transfer market this summer.

Sonny Carey, Thomas Kaminski and Tanto Olaofe have all penned deals with the Addicks, as they look to stock up on talent ahead of their first season back in the Championship next term.

They have, however, been dealt a blow in the shape of losing Thierry Small to Preston North End, and with further incomings sure to arrive, there may well be a number of Charlton players perhaps questioning their own future at The Valley beyond this summer.

We asked our Charlton fan pundit, Sam White: 'Miles Leaburn's contract expires next summer. The striker was being linked with Brentford and Chelsea in October 2023, not long before a season-ending hamstring injury. In the latter stages of 24/25 he also suffered a quad injury that ruled him out for the final stages.

'He's clearly got bags of potential but is susceptible to injuries. Do you think Charlton should consider cashing in this summer due to his contract situation, and do you think Premier League clubs would take a chance on him despite his injury record?'

White said: "I think this is a very, very big season for Miles Leaburn.

"He should be having a full pre-season for the first time in a year or two, so hopefully that will really build him up and provide a really good foundation for him. He's obviously able to do it at League One, so it would be interesting to see if he can make the step up.

"I think he'll struggle, personally. But, I think if he can get five-10 goals in the Championship this season, his worth will skyrocket. Obviously, I think Charlton will look to offer him a contract, but I don't think it will be before January.

"I think they should offer him a contract, but again, being in the Championship and seeing the signings we've made, it's clear that every aspect has to be improved and taken to the next level, and that includes Miles Leaburn.

"So whether he will want to accept a kind of bit part role, or having to fight for his place, that could determine how he sees his role at Charlton, and whether he'd want to sign another contract.

"I don't think Premier League teams will want to take a chance on him. Just because of his injury record, but also, he's never done it above League One level.

"So I think if he can do something this season, even just for half a season, and avoid getting injuries, people will start having a look at him."

Clubs will surely watch Leaburn closely this summer, before potentially bagging a bargain or rolling the dice next summer

Despite having struggled with injury problems in recent times, Leaburn is evidently a player that we've yet to see the ceiling of.

At 21, to have scored the amount of goals at the rate he's been finding the net over the course of his first three seasons in senior football, is hugely impressive indeed.

However, as White rightly pointed out, all of those campaigns have been at League One level, and whilst his scoring numbers suggest he could well make the step up to Championship level next term, until he does so, big clubs may not be willing to take a swing on him.

That could very well change next summer though, as the potential to capture the signature of a young, promising English centre-forward on a free, would surely be very tempting for a number of clubs higher up the pyramid.

Especially if he does enjoy a strong start to the 25/26 season, and should Leaburn get wind of big-name interest coming his way once again as a result, he may well wish to hit the free agent market next summer, enabling himself to have the pick of any interested clubs to sign for.

As a result, he may not wish to commit his future to Charlton at this stage of his contract situation, as should he start ripping up the Championship next season, Charlton would be in a position to rebuff any offers for him unless it was silly money.

Therefore, given he is set to be available for nothing this time next year, clubs may well opt to pass up on parting with a significant sum of money right now, and instead choose to see how he gets on in the early stages of next season for Charlton, before perhaps making a move in January at the earliest.