Charlton Athletic transfer chief talks about recent bid for Boreham Wood youngster

Charlton Athletic’s director of football Steve Gallen says he has not thought about a fresh move for Boreham Wood’s Sorba Thomas.

The Addicks saw a bid rejected for the 21-year-old towards the end of the last transfer window.

Thomas has since been transfer-listed by the non-league club.

“Once we knew we were selling Macauley Bonne I went to Thomas Sandgaard [Charlton’s owner] because Lee [Bowyer] talks about having projects,” said Gallen.

“Macauley was one who got in our team. I’m glad we took that gamble and it paid off financially for the club. I wanted to do another one.

“I told Thomas there was another I saw as a project. I said: ‘I don’t think he’s going to come in straight away and rip it up, but he’s young enough to learn and get better. He’s exciting.

“I made a bid to Boreham Wood and they turned it down. It wasn’t that big a deal to me. I didn’t go back with a further bid, that was it.

“They put stuff out in the media and they are perfectly entitled to. We made a bid for a player, they said no and we move on. I haven’t paid any attention since. I respected them saying no. They came back saying they wanted this and that – it was way over my own valuation.

“So I haven’t looked since. That’s not being disrespectful to anybody.

“In January and leading up to it we’ll be looking at different players to see if anyone improves us. We might not need anybody. But we should always be open to any young players who are potential projects.”

See Friday’s South London Press for an exclusive interview with Steve Gallen as he talks in detail about the last transfer window.