Exclusive: Lyle Taylor talks about his Charlton Athletic contract situation and summer transfer bids

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Lyle Taylor has confirmed that Charlton Athletic are in contract talks with his representatives – and he will tell all on social media when the time is right.

The Addicks top-scorer, who was the subject of multiple bids from Brentford before the summer transfer window shut, is out of contract in June.

“From what I can gather there has been conversations had upstairs,” said the Montserrat international. “If and when the club and my team can come to an agreement, I’ll stay.

“I don’t think there is a lot to say on it. If and when it happens everyone will know – I’m pretty sure I’ll start putting stuff on social media!”

Taylor has hinted at club transfer news on his Twitter account already since the summer with posts about Jonny Williams and Deji Oshilaja before they put pen to paper.

He has also spoken for the first time to any media about the Bees’ attempts to land him.

“I scored goals last year, I had a good season,” he said. “People being interested in trying to secure my services is kind of a given.

“In any club with any player who has had a successful season that kind of thing happens.

“There was a lot said and a lot of rumours that went about – Lyle’s done this and Lyle’s done that. I handled it professionally and the club handled it professionally. The owner didn’t accept the money.

“It is not like I had anything to do with it at that point. It doesn’t become an issue for the player or his agent to deal with until a club accepts the fee. The fee was never accepted.

“There was never anything for me to say on the matter. People were asking me if I was staying or going, it never got to that point. I never had to make a decision.

“I’m happy, I’m scoring goals…well I was happy and scoring goals [until a knee injury]. I want to be back as soon as possible and scoring goals as soon as possible.

“I will pull the red and white shirt on again for this club and do my very best until the day comes – and it will come eventually in the future – that I don’t pull on that shirt again.”

*SEE TODAY’S SOUTH LONDON PRESS FOR AN INTERVIEW WITH TAYLOR ON HIS FUNDRAISING EFFORTS FOR CANCER RESEARCH, HIS KNEE INJURY AND BEING ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S TOP GOALSCORERS SINCE HIS MOVE TO AFC WIMBLEDON IN 2015.

PICTURE BY PAUL EDWARDS