Birmingham City emerge as frontrunners to sign Charlton’s Golden Boot winner Alfie May

Charlton striker Alfie May looks set to join Birmingham City.

The Addicks frontman, who won League One’s Golden Boot last season, was a top target for Huddersfield Town.

But Birmingham, looking to bounce back from Championship relegation, have stepped into negotiations and the South London Press understands that they put in a bid that exceeded the Terriers’ offer for May, who scored 27 goals in all competitions last season.

May, who turns 31 on Wednesday, looks set to sign a three-year contract with the Blues.

Charlton were already intent on bringing in at least one forward during the transfer window and that will definitely become two if May, signed from Cheltenham Town for £250,000 last summer, does complete a move away.

His former club will also be due a slice of the fee as part of a sell-on negotiated when the frontman made the switch to SE7.

Charlton manager Nathan Jones told our paper last week that he was under no financial duress to cash in on May.

He said: “If for any reason Alfie May leaves this football club then we must have players that will come into the squad that make this football club significantly better.

“I have no financial pressure, or any pressure from the board or the club in any way to do anything.

“That is why I have come here – to have that autonomy to make sound decisions for the football club, to be bold and to really ask the board to back that. And they have, to every level. We’re under no pressure. We’re a big football club, in terms of that.”

PICTURE: KYLE ANDREWS