Blackpool not prepared to trigger automatic deal for Charlton Athletic winger

Blackpool are reportedly unwilling to pay the pre-agreed fee to turn Charlie Kirk’s move into a permanent arrangement.

The Charlton Athletic winger spent the second half of last season on loan with the Seasiders.

And Blackpool had the option to pay in the region of £500,000 to keep the 24-year-old, who joined the Addicks from Crewe last summer.

But Lancs Live claim that the Championship side would like to sign Kirk but do not have the funds available to push through a transfer.

Kirk’s contract with the South Londoners runs until June 2025 and the latest development throws up the prospect of him returning to his parent club for next season.

It always looked likely that Blackpool would attempt to drive the transfer terms down and Kirk was not a regular starter in Neil Critchley’s side. But he did get three assists in nine league appearances.

Kirk had only played 449 minutes of League One football for Charlton before he was allowed to make a temporary exit. But since then there has been a managerial change with Johnnie Jackson leaving and that could see the Addicks move away from the 5-3-2 formation which did not suit the attacker.