Charlton boss Nigel Adkins has fresh contact with out-of-contract duo

Nigel Adkins has revealed he spoke to Ben Amos and Chuks Aneke on Tuesday – with Charlton Athletic still waiting to see if the pair commit to new contracts.

The duo are both free agents on July 1.

Amos is understood to have attracted interest from a number of League One clubs. We revealed earlier this week that he was on Ipswich’s shortlist as they will bring in a new keeper this summer.

Aneke finished top-scorer for Charlton last season, proving a highly effective impact substitute.

Addicks manager Adkins has already confirmed that he wants Amos, Aneke and Adam Matthews to extend their stays in SE7. He had initially made that clear a couple of days after the 2020-21 campaign ended.

Adkins told the South London Press: “We talk about Ben Amos, Chuks Aneke and Adam Matthews, there have been contract negotiations going backwards and forwards. I know there has been a lot of interest in the three of them, because they are good players.

“I know there has been a lot of movement in negotiations. I’m delighted we got [Jayden] Stockley across the line.

“Every club has got a budget and a ceiling they can go to financially. You can’t have everybody on the high wages that maybe some of the clubs are offering. There has to be a balance. That is where Ged Roddy [technical director] and Steve Gallen [director of football], working with the owner, have put that budget in place.

“We’ll have to wait and see. For example, I spoke to Ben and Chuks yesterday. They know I want them at the football club. The players have to make a decision and the agents make a decision for the finances as well. It is the way it is, let’s not hide about it.

“There are many factors now in a player deciding where they want to be. Agents have a big say in it but ultimately the player has got to be happy where they are playing.

“There has been a lot of negotiations going on behind the scenes with many, many parties. Across the board you’ll find that with many football clubs as well.”

Charlton begin to gear back up for the 2021-22 season tomorrow. There will be two days of testing before training resumes on Monday.

Adkins said: “I’d think there will be a knock-on effect because of the European Championships and the Copa America games, a lot of Premier League clubs have got young players making up the numbers in pre-season.

“When the senior players come back from all the tournaments, then the loan players will start to drip out towards the end of the transfer window. Therefore players leaving Premier League clubs, Championship clubs, League One clubs and League Two clubs – you get the domino effect that kicks in.”

Charlton have re-signed Ben Watson and Jason Pearce on new one-year contracts.

“They know that, in my mind, they are not going to be the starters,” said Adkins. “But they are determined to have that ‘I’ll show you’ [mentality] which is brilliant.

“They have got massive roles to play. We have got a lot of academy players and it is important they have got good role models – people who have been there, seen it and done it. They are going to contribute. They are excellent characters.”