Will Charlton have new signings in before Spanish training camp? Thomas Sandgaard gives his reaction
Charlton Athletic owner Thomas Sandgaard is making no promises that the club will have kicked off their summer signings before the current squad head off to Spain for a pre-season training camp.
The Addicks locked in their new manager on Wednesday with Ben Garner clinching a three-year contract after compensation was agreed with League Two Swindon Town.
Charlton’s players report back for pre-season testing next Thursday and then jet off at the weekend.
Asked how likely there would be additions made before the bonding exercise, Sandgaard told the South London Press yesterday: “There’s two sides to that equation. One is how well-prepared we are, and we’ve been working on recruiting for this transfer window for many months. We shaped all the analysis, we have multiple analysts and scouts working on it. We’re really well-prepared and identified a number of targets. We’ve had some preliminary discussions with some players.
“Then you have the other side of the equation. You have a bunch of agents out there representing players, including the ones we’re looking at, and pretty much all of them have an agenda which is 10 minutes before the end of deadline day is when they want deals to come down because it financially benefits the most.
“We’re trying to make those two very opposing interests come together.
“So will we have any signings before we go on the trip to Spain? That’s hard to say. We’re obviously working hard. Between all the things we were doing today [Wednesday when Garner was announced as boss], we were discussing all the names and thoughts we had among the four of us. It was very productive.
“But that doesn’t mean we get anybody signed tomorrow. It is one of the hardest things to predict. I’d say it is nearly easier to predict the football result of the next game than it is predicting who we get in and when. It’s quite a big puzzle.
“We have big faith in our negotiating mastermind here, Steve Gallen. He’s the best negotiator I’ve ever met.”
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