‘Internal discussions’ taking place on Charlton Athletic’s players due to free agents this summer

Johnnie Jackson says that there are “internal discussions” taking place over Charlton Athletic players who are due to be free agents in July.

The Addicks have a number of their squad in the final months of their contracts including Conor Washington – their top goalscorer in the league – as well as veteran midfielder Ben Watson, Ben Purrington, Jason Pearce and Jake Forster-Caskey.

“We’re having internal discussions around how we want to move going forward and the shape of the squad for next season,” said Charlton boss Jackson. “Naturally a lot of discussions are around them [the players due to be out of contract] and deciding who we’re going to offer deals to.

“Before too long you have to start having those discussions with the player or the agent.

“That’s the first step of the recruitment, if you like, to decide on the ones who are with us and the ones we want to go forward with.

“That’s where we’re at. Those discussions have started and they’ll be acted upon pretty soon.”

Charlton owner Thomas Sandgaard recently indicated that the club would be looking to bring in around five permanent signings as well as up to six loan additions.

The US-based Dane’s comments suggest it will be a busy summer of rebuilding and Jackson said: “There’s lots of work to do.

“We have got six loans all going back and the lads out of contract as well. There is going to be quite a lot of business to do – outgoings and incomings. We need to be prepared so when the window does open and the season is finished that we can get cracking.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD