Charlton supremo rejected Chelsea’s overtures until Mason Burstow loan-back was agreed

Thomas Sandgaard has revealed that he turned down Chelsea’s advances for Mason Burstow until the Premier League giants agreed to loan the striker back for the rest of the season.

The 18-year-old South Londoner, who has scored six goals in 14 first-team matches, signed for the Blues on transfer deadline day.

Charlton secured another of their top talents on Wednesday with prolific 17-year-old academy forward Daniel Kanu – who has scored 31 goals this season – signing a professional deal until at least 2024.

Burstow, raised in Woolwich and Plumstead, had 18 months left to run on his own terms. His move to Chelsea caps a meteoric rise. He only joined the club’s youth set-up in October 2020.

Asked how important it was to keep hold of the teenager in the short term – with top-scorer Jayden Stockley sidelined with a hip problem – Sandgaard told the South London Press: “Absolutely. We called off the deal when they [Chelsea] didn’t want to do that. I was already torn if it was the right thing to do.

“We didn’t know he was going until eight minutes before the deadline because I was determined we got the right deal for him – financially – and also getting him back on loan. We’re pretty thin on strikers with injuries. We have a little more depth up front, that was important to me. We told them that I want to be someone who keeps my word. ”

At least four top-flight clubs were thought to be scouting Burstow with two of them formally bidding, Brentford joining Chelsea in firming up their interest.

“I was torn if we were going to go with it or not,” said Sandgaard. “It would’ve been nice to keep him for the long term. We could’ve waited another year or two, and maybe got more for him, but there is risk involved in the meantime.

“We knew about a month ago that there was a lot of interest in Mason. We started having talks with Premier League clubs and they had their head scouts out every time Mason played, whether we were home or away. Less than a week ago we started receiving formal offers for him.

“He’s clearly worth a lot due to his potential. It wasn’t until deadline day the offers started getting up to our expectations.”

The length of Burstow’s contract at Chelsea is undisclosed along with the fee.

Sandgaard declined to make public the structure of the deal but added that the sell-on is “unusually high”.

“It [the transfer] is something that will definitely strengthen the football club – substantially,” said Sandgaard. “We won’t be able to do much, in terms of strengthening there, until the next transfer window.

“He is a young lad and it was about being part of helping him and doing what was right by him for his further development and ambitions to hopefully become one of the best young players in the country.”

Burstow follows the likes of Ademola Lookman, Joe Aribo and Joe Gomez in being high-profile exits.

It’s the reality of Charlton – relegated from the Premier League in 2007 – being in England’s third tier.

Sandgaard outlined his desire to return to the top flight when he acquired the football club in September 2020.

“Until then the big clubs will be trying to pick off our better players but, on the other hand, we are now in a position where we can be picky about it and only take the deal if it is right,” said the US-based Dane. “We’re not desperate to sell. We invest in players on three or four-year contracts. That is something sustainable and we can build on.

“Naturally there will be a few players that get sold – but we want that to be the exception.”

There have been fears raised that Burstow – who scored with his first touch in senior football – might lose focus after a high-profile move to the reigning European champions.

“He’s a great young kid and very professional how he goes about things,” said Sandgaard. “I have no worries about that. He’s a Charlton fan as well, so I’m sure he’s going to give it his all.”