"Would be ideal" - Charlton Athletic urged to solve key Nathan Jones issue ahead of transfer deadline | OneFootball

We asked our Charlton Athletic pundit about their dream end to the January 2025 window.

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…

Charlton Athletic have been told to source a creative midfield replacement for Terry Taylor to provide a dream end to the January transfer window.

The Addicks are targeting a play-off finish come May and successive victories in the league have kept them in the hunt alongside a number of other clubs.

Despite this ambition, the winter window has been something of a let-down with Charlton still yet to make an addition as we enter the final week of the window.

This hasn't stopped the outgoings, with Terry Taylor and Nathan Asiiwe departing on loan, while Tayo Edun joined Peterborough United on a permanent deal.

Unsurprisingly, this has left Addicks supporters anxious, and if Charlie Methven's consortium fails to secure a deal in the coming days, they could squander the club's promising position in the play-off race.

Charlton Athletic urged to find a creative playmaker ahead of February 3 transfer deadline

To get an understanding of what would provide a dream end to the winter window, Football League World spoke to their resident Charlton fan pundit, Ben Fleming, who believes they need to retain their top talent and find an influential midfielder.

"We don't want to lose any of our key players," Fleming told FLW.

"I saw some links between Thierry Small and Preston North End, but those have been rebuffed by some other reports. He is not someone that we want to be losing.

"I don't think we are going to be expecting any movement for Miles Leaburn or Tyreece Campbell, but that is what you don't want to think about in the last few days of the window.

"We have let Tayo Edun go, which is fine with our relative cover when everyone is back to full fitness.

"We also let Terry Taylor go out on loan in central midfield, and that is probably the area we are looking at - one out, one in.

"We play three in midfield and, with Taylor going - albeit he wasn't playing a lot - a few injuries have forced him to play more.

"That provides an opportunity to bring in someone on loan, perhaps someone of the more attacking, creative variety, who can get forward and make a bit more happen. That is what we have been missing - someone who carries the ball through the thirds and influences the game more.

"That would be ideal, on loan or even permanently, but other than that, just make sure we keep the squad together."

Charlton Athletic may have a lack of strength in depth for League One top six finish

While ensuring you keep the core of your squad together can often be as important as signings, it seems pivotal that the Addicks make an addition to the top half of the pitch.

This season, they have scored just 32 goals in 26 games, with their expected number even lower at 27.8. Furthermore, they have created only 47 big chances - a figure that is only marginally higher than some of the teams fighting to avoid relegation.

This has to be addressed by those above Nathan Jones and providing the head coach with some firepower or creative flair may just give them the edge in the race for the play-offs.

One thing they must ensure is that they don’t sit back and expect success to fall into their lap, as the likes of Barnsley, Reading, and Bolton Wanderers