‘One of our biggest summers’ – Charlton boss Nathan Jones on upcoming transfer window
Nathan Jones is not putting a number on how many players he expects Charlton Athletic to sign in the summer transfer window – but has said he expects it to be one of their most hectic trading periods.
The Addicks are unbeaten in 14 League One matches under the Welshman, who was appointed manager in February.
Charlton are on their best undefeated run in 24 years but also will finish in their worst league position in 98 years, since the 1925-1926 season.
There is optimism that Jones can mastermind a promotion push for the South Londoners, who are 16th in the standings.
“If I’m being honest they probably went into this season thinking promotion was a realistic possibility,” said the Addicks boss. “For whatever reason it didn’t happen – I’m not commenting on past things.
“Since I’ve come in the players have really responded. But there have been certain things we need to do better. Yes, we’ve had an uplift, we’ve laid foundations and been 14 unbeaten but this could quite easily have been nine wins and five draws, not the other way around.
“We will bring in a number of players – we know exactly the positions we want to bring them in. All those players will be of a level that they improve the 11. We don’t want to bring squad players in because we have got a big enough squad. We have got young players and ones from the academy we will promote.
“We will sign players that will make our 11 better. If we don’t do that then it will be a wasted summer – but we will do that.
“If I say three, four, five six or seven (coming in) and we only bring five – we know exactly how many. It will probably be one of our biggest summers – in terms of numbers – because I don’t like recruiting big numbers every year.
“I’ve had the chance to work with people for 15 games, I’ve evaluated those (players) and they are the ones who can come forward in how I would like us to play.
“We will come out of this window significantly stronger then we go into it.”
PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD
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