Exclusive: Five players who Charlton Athletic boss wants secured on new contracts

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Lee Bowyer has identified five players who Charlton Athletic need to secure on new deals.

The Addicks manager had already revealed earlier in the summer that Tariqe Fosu and Joe Aribo had been offered new terms. But neither has penned an extension since.

Both are under the age of 24 and so would not be free agents in the summer of 2019 – with Charlton still entitled to compensation if they were to move on.

The same also applies to Karlan Grant, above, and Lewis Page. But not to Dillon Phillips – with Bowyer saying he wants the quintet tied down.

“We don’t just need to speak to two [Fosu and Aribo] – there is also Pagey, Dillon and Karlan.  They are the five we need to speak to sooner rather than later. That is already in motion.

“Steve [Gallen, head of recruitment] and the owner [Roland Duchatelet] have been talking about that already.

“The owner put that to Steve the other day that we have to offer these contracts. We have offered to Tariqe and Joe already.

“But there are others we need to tie down as well. We’ll get around to that soon.”

Meanwhile Bowyer has admitted Naby Sarr has made his omission tougher – with the French centre-back scoring in the last two matches.

“He’s definitely stepped up and improved since I’ve been in charge. You can never doubt him in possession, he is very good with his feet for the size of him. You can see why Charlton bought him for the money they did. Technically he is outstanding for a defender.

“What I told him I needed was to be more physical in the English game. He is definitely doing more of that.

“It is a difficult one with Naby. I have got Pearcey [Jason Pearce] and when we go to a back four he is a leader and my captain. There’s going to be times he ain’t going to play.

“It was a difficult decision not to play him at Southend, he hadn’t done anything wrong. All he can do is keep improving.”