Charlton Athletic face a restricted wage limit under EFL transfer embargo that will impact on their remaining summer targets
BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk
Charlton Athletic are still under a transfer embargo despite their signing activity this week.
The Addicks confirmed the addition of Milton Keynes midfielder Alex Gilbey and Hearts striker Conor Washington.
Charlton were set to announce deals for the duo last week but were blocked by the governing body because of signing restrictions.
And while negotiations between the club and EFL on Tuesday morning finally allowed the moves to go through, Charlton could be forced to work on majorly restricted wages as director of football Steve Gallen and manager Lee Bowyer construct the rest of their squad.
League One voted for a salary cap a week ago and that means that clubs at that level can only pay new signings £2,000 a week. That rule came straight into play – hence why the Addicks were in a hurry to get a clutch of new arrivals in the door before that. But the current sanctions on Charlton mean that they can only pay a maximum of £1,300 a week unless their embargo is softened. And that also applies to any loan signings.
The new spending rules mean that you are not restricted in the financial package you offer players under the age of 21.
And in normal circumstances the Addicks would be able to go out and take advantage of Premier League loans – like they have in the past for the likes of Josh Cullen and Conor Gallagher – without any limit on wages.
But that is not the case as things stand for the SE7 outfit while they remain on a tight leash with the EFL.
To give an idea of the size of the challenge facing Charlton on the recruitment front, there are players in League Two on existing deals earning more.
The Addicks were hoping to land Kieran Sadlier before the embargo disrupted their plans.
The winger was Doncaster Rover’s top scorer last season but signed a three-year contract at Rotherham United earlier this week.
The arrivals of Gilbey and Washington are definitely good news for the South London club.