Charlton boss Lee Bowyer: We still need to make TEN signings to compete in League One this season
Lee Bowyer reckons his Charlton Athletic squad still needs 10 signings in this transfer window.
So far the Addicks have only added Hearts striker Conor Washington and Milton Keynes midfielder Alex Gilbey to their squad.
And Bowyer revealed earlier today that the EFL say they already have a 23-man squad – counting anyone who has made a senior appearance. That includes the likes of youngster Junior Quitirna, a 62nd-minute sub in a Carabao Cup tie against Forest Green in August 2019.
Charlton are under a transfer embargo due to East Street Investments failing to get EFL approval when they bought the football club in January.
Senior pros such as Lyle Taylor, Chris Solly, Tomer Hemed, Naby Sarr and Lewis Page have moved on. Right-back Adam Matthews is still training with the Addicks but is a free agent.
All of the loanees – which included Andre Green, Aiden McGeady and David Davis – have all left too.
Club captain Jason Pearce is out with a knee injury and is set to miss the start of the campaign.
“As it stands we don’t have a left-footed centre-half that’s fit,” said Bowyer. “We had one – Pearcey – and he’s injured and will be out for a few weeks.
“We don’t have a right-back either. All over the pitch we need to improve because we’ve lost 12 players. We have brought in two so we need to replace 10 if we’re going to compete.
Photo: Kyle Andrew
“Definitely the only place we’re strong is in goal – because we have got three good goalies. We have got young Ashley [Maynard-Brewer] coming through who is very, very good.
“Everywhere else we need to strengthen. We’ve got one left-back, one centre-half and one right-sided centre-half but with Tom Lockyer we still don’t know what happening there – he is still our player but there is a chance he could go.
“In midfield if you take the kids out of it – because they need to go on loan – we’ve got four centre-mids.
“We need a finisher. We have to replace Lyle. We need to try and find someone that you think when we get a chance they will take it. We’ve brought Conor in but he can play out wide and he can play up top – he’s versatile. But we need an out-and-out number nine striker.”
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